Syrian army seizes strategic al‑Tanf base as US forces withdraw

What happened

Syrian government forces have taken control of the al‑Tanf military base near the Iraq–Jordan border, the Syrian defence ministry said, announcing that units secured the base and surrounding area “through coordination between the Syrian and American sides.” The ministry added that army units have begun deploying along the Syrian‑Iraqi‑Jordanian border and that border guards will be placed in the coming days. The US military has not issued an official statement on the pullback.

Context and implications

Al‑Tanf was established in 2014 as a key hub for the US‑led coalition campaign against ISIL. The withdrawal comes amid broader shifts in Syria: a former HTS leader joined the anti‑ISIL coalition in November, a US‑brokered agreement aims to integrate the Kurdish‑led Syrian Democratic Forces into government structures, and Syrian forces have recently advanced into previously Kurdish‑held areas. Observers and correspondents have reported US drawdowns at other sites, including lowered flags and removed equipment, and Washington has been transferring ISIL detainees as control of detention facilities changed hands. US troop levels in Syria have fluctuated, with a July 2025 Pentagon estimate near 1,500 and the Associated Press reporting about 900 currently; the US also carried out large‑scale strikes in January after a December ambush, as reported by Al Jazeera