Syrian government forces have assumed control of the strategic al-Tanf military base near the borders of Iraq and Jordan, the Syrian defence ministry announced on Thursday.
According to the ministry, units of the Syrian Arab Army entered and secured the base and surrounding areas “in coordination between the Syrian and American sides,” as US troops concluded their withdrawal.
Officials said Syrian forces have begun deploying along sections of the Syrian-Iraqi-Jordanian border, with additional border guard units expected to be positioned in the coming days.
A Key Anti-ISIL Hub
The al-Tanf base was established in 2014 during Syria’s civil war as a central operations hub for the US-led coalition fighting ISIL (ISIS). At the height of the conflict, the armed group controlled large swaths of territory across Syria and Iraq before being largely defeated in 2017.
The withdrawal marks a significant shift in the US military footprint in Syria, where American forces had maintained a presence for years as part of counterterrorism operations.
The US military has not issued an official statement on the al-Tanf pullout. However, former President Donald Trump has repeatedly signaled interest in reducing or ending US deployments in Syria during his time in office.
Political Shifts in Syria
The development comes months after Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, formerly associated with the armed group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, joined the international coalition against ISIL in November. Al-Sharaa had previously been designated by the US as a “Specially Designated Global Terrorist.”
Separately, a US-brokered agreement earlier this year paved the way for integrating the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) — long considered a crucial US partner against ISIL — into Syrian state institutions. Washington described the agreement as an important step toward reconciliation and national unity.
In recent weeks, Syrian government forces expanded their presence in parts of northeastern Syria that were previously under Kurdish administration. Clashes between the SDF and Syrian troops were reported before a ceasefire was reached.
Prison Transfers and Force Reductions
As control of territory shifted, US forces transferred thousands of ISIL detainees from prisons previously managed by the SDF to facilities under Syrian government oversight.
The size of the US military deployment in Syria has fluctuated over time. A Pentagon statement in July 2025 cited approximately 1,500 American personnel in the country, though more recent reports suggest the number has decreased to around 900.
Earlier this month, observers reported signs of US troop reductions in northeastern Hasakah province, including the lowering of the US flag from watchtowers near the al-Shaddadi area and the removal of equipment used to manage airstrip operations.
Ongoing Security Concerns
Despite the troop drawdown, the US has continued counterterrorism operations in Syria. In January, American forces conducted what officials described as “large-scale” strikes against ISIL targets following an ambush in Palmyra that killed two US soldiers and a civilian interpreter.
With Syrian forces now in control of al-Tanf, analysts say the move signals a new phase in Syria’s evolving security landscape — one shaped by reduced US involvement and expanded authority for Damascus along key border regions.