Syrian Forces Assume Control of Al-Tanf After US Pullout

Syrian forces assumed control of the strategic al-Tanf military base in southern Syria on Thursday, following the withdrawal of United States troops from the site after more than a decade of American presence.

The handover occurred through coordination between Syrian and U.S. authorities, according to a statement from Syria's Defense Ministry. The base, located at the tri-border area with Iraq and Jordan, had served as a key outpost since 2014 for U.S.-led coalition operations against the Islamic State group, which once held vast territories in Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019. U.S. forces also used the site to monitor and counter Iranian influence along supply routes linking Damascus to Tehran and its proxies in Lebanon.

The U.S. military's Central Command confirmed the completion of the withdrawal in a statement, noting that troops relocated to a base in Jordan. Admiral Brad Cooper, who leads Central Command, said U.S. forces remain ready to address any emerging threats from the Islamic State, while supporting partner-led efforts to prevent the group's resurgence. The Pentagon had announced plans last year to consolidate its basing in Syria, part of a...