Syrian Troops Take Over Key Syria Base After U.S. Withdrawal

Latest Developments

Al-Tanf Withdrawal: U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) stated on February 12 that U.S. forces had completed the “orderly withdrawal” from the al-Tanf base in northeastern Syria. The confirmation came after Syria announced the U.S. departure earlier in the day. CENTCOM said that the base, originally established in 2014 during Combined Joint Task Force — Operation Inherent Resolve, “enabled partner forces in the fight against ISIS.” CENTCOM Commander Adm. Brad Cooper emphasized that “U.S. forces remain poised to respond to any ISIS threats that arise in the region as we support partner-led efforts to prevent the terrorist network’s resurgence.”
Syrian Troops Take Control: Syria said its troops had taken control of the base in a coordinated move with the United States. Syrian forces officially joined the coalition to combat ISIS after a November 2025 meeting at the White House between Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa and President Donald Trump. The move comes as part of what CENTCOM described as a consolidation of the U.S. troop presence in Syria announced in April 2025.
Withdrawal After Integration Agreement: On January 30, the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) — a U.S.-backed group that played a decisive role in combating ISIS — agreed to a phased integration of its fighters with Syrian government forces. The agreement ended weeks of bloody clashes between the SDF and the Syrian army, in which pro-Damascus forces seized large parts of SDF-controlled territory. Over the past weeks, the United States has transferred thousands of ISIS prisoners held in northern Syria to Iraq in preparation for further withdrawal.

FDD Expert Response

“The American presence in Syria has been crucial to the prevention of terrorism and internecine violence. It has been crucial for the protection of minorities in Syria. It has been essential in safeguarding American interests across the Middle East. The withdrawal of American troops will be celebrated by some as a reduction in American commitments abroad. This may be the case, but it will also be celebrated by America’s adversaries and enemies as an opportunity to extend power and fill a void.” — Jonathan Schanzer, Executive Director

“This was a low-cost, high-value mission that the United States is ending even though the threat persists. Even if the new Syrian leadership wants to fight ISIS, its capacity is questionable at best. Moreover, the Syrian army has incorporated thousands of ex-jihadists. The mission at al-Tanf also served as an obstacle to the operations of Iran and its proxies, who ship weapons across Syria to Hezbollah in Lebanon. This is an own goal.” — David Adesnik, Vice President of Research

“The situation in Syria has evolved significantly, but Congress should ask serious questions to ensure this is not yet another example of a costly, politically motivated withdrawal that ignores conditions on the ground and the advice of commanders. The withdrawals from Iraq in 2011 and Afghanistan in 2021 underscore the need to bring the same level of scrutiny to military withdrawals as we do to new military deployments.” — Bradley Bowman, Senior Director of FDD’s Center on Military and Political Power