Al-Tanf

May 29, 2026 | David Daoud |

Israel reportedly targets Imam Hossein Division missile commander in Beirut strike

On May 28, at approximately 2 pm, the Israeli Air Force targeted an apartment on the second floor of the Rayyan Project building, near Shuwayfat’s Ajniha Al Khamsa area, just southeast...

May 5, 2026 | Bridget Toomey |

Iraq Is Envisioning New Oil Pipelines — But They Are Likely a Pipe Dream

Iraq’s reliance on oil exports through the now-closed Strait of Hormuz may spell financial disaster for Baghdad, which has limited options to avert a crisis. More than 94 percent of Iraq’s oil exports...

April 10, 2026 | Seth J. Frantzman |

Syria focuses on diplomacy amid Iran war

On April 9, Syrian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Asaad Hassan al Shaibani traveled to Turkey, where he met with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan. It was Damascus’s second meeting with...

February 18, 2026 | Seth J. Frantzman |

Syrian government and SDF continue transition, US strikes Islamic State and withdraws from Tanf

The Syrian government and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) continued transitioning control of portions of Syria as US Central Command (CENTCOM) said it had carried out strikes on the Islamic...

February 13, 2026 | Ahmad Sharawi |

ISIS Reconstitutes as the U.S. Walks Away From Syria

After surviving numerous Islamic State (ISIS)-linked assassination plots, Syria’s President Ahmad al-Sharaa — himself a former jihadi — governs with a target on his back. Moreover, ISIS is resurging...

February 12, 2026 | |

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....

December 13, 2025 | Ahmad Sharawi |

3 Americans killed, 3 injured in Islamic State ambush attack in Palmyra, Syria

US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced that “two U.S. service members and one U.S. civilian were killed, and three service members were injured, as a result of an ambush by a lone ISIS [Islamic...

June 6, 2025 | Seth J. Frantzman |

Delegation from eastern Syria meets with government in Damascus

A delegation from the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES) met with the new Syrian government in Damascus on June 1. The talks are aimed at fully integrating the autonomous eastern...

April 22, 2025 | Seth J. Frantzman |

Will U.S. Forces Leave Syria for Good in 2025?

U.S. forces in Syria continue to support their partners in the war against ISIS. This is part of a mission that dates back to 2015, when the U.S. first became involved in Syria. However, recent reports point to an increasing likelihood that the U.S. role in Syria may end within months.

April 21, 2025 | |

United States to Withdraw 1,000 Troops from Syria in Coming Months

Pentagon Confirms Troop Consolidation: The U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) confirmed on April 18 that the United States will consolidate and reduce its forces in Syria, maintaining...

April 16, 2025 | Seth J. Frantzman |

American troops train Syrian Free Army at Tanf Garrison as US weighs next moves in Syria

US forces in Tanf continue to train with Syrian partner forces and support their work securing an area of southern Syria near the Iraqi and Jordanian borders. On April 11, Combined Joint Task Force...

March 3, 2025 | Seth J. Frantzman |

Can Syria Survive?

On February 25, Syria held a National Dialogue Conference, which is supposed to help the country come together after years of civil war and the toppling of the Assad regime. Syria’s new president,...

February 10, 2025 | Seth J. Frantzman |

US-backed Syrian Free Army continues to patrol Tanf area in southern Syria

On February 9, the Syrian Free Army (SFA) said in a post on social media that it provided medical services to more than 60 Bedouin patients in southern Syria as part of a mobile clinic. The Syrian...

December 29, 2024 | Seth J. Frantzman |

Pro-Iran militias in Iraq may move away from Syria border

The point of the report is that the Iraqis want to show that the militias who played a role in Syria will now not just be in Iraq, but will be moved away from the border.

December 20, 2024 | Seth J. Frantzman |

Syria Is At A Crossroads. What’s At Stake Now?

Can the new government stabilize the country? Additionally, can Washington make sure it doesn’t miss an opportunity to leverage a decade of work with the Kurds and other partners?

December 18, 2024 | Ahmad Sharawi |

Who will form the core of Jolani’s unified army?

Ahmad al Sharaa, the leader of Hayat Tahrir al Sham (HTS), commonly known by his nom de guerre Abu Mohammad al Jolani, has unveiled a vision for post-Assad Syria. With HTS assuming control in the aftermath...

December 7, 2024 | Seth J. Frantzman |

Could the unrest in Syria spillover into Iraq? Iran seems to think so

Iran believes that Iraq is in danger - this means that Iran is worried militias it backs in Iraq could lose influence.

October 30, 2024 | Seth J. Frantzman |

Between proxies and a new attack on Israel: Iran’s dilemma

Iran operates via proxies in several countries and territories, including Yemen, Lebanon, Iraq, and the Gaza Strip.

June 27, 2024 | Bill Roggio, Janatan Sayeh

Iran-backed Iraqi militia threatens to strike US interests should Israel attack Lebanon

The leader of one of Iraq’s most influential and powerful Iran-backed militias threatened US interests in the Middle East in response to a potential large-scale Israeli military campaign against Hezbollah...

January 28, 2024 | Joe Truzman, Bill Roggio

Three U.S. service members in Jordan killed by Iran-backed militias

Iran-backed militias killed three U.S. service members and injured 25 in a drone attack on a base in northeast Jordan near the Syrian border. It’s the single worst incident of deaths and injuries of...