DAMASCUS (Web Desk) - The Syrian Ministry of Defence announced on Monday that the Syrian Army has taken the control of Al-Shaddadi military base in the country’s northeast.
According to the ministry, the transfer of control was carried out after coordination and consultations with US authorities.
The base, located in the outskirts of Hasakah province, had previously hosted American troops deployed as part of the international coalition against ISIS.
Earlier, the United States confirmed that it had also vacated the Al-Tanf base near the border of Syria, Jordan, and Iraq, as part of a broader withdrawal from key positions in the region.
Historically, the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) had been a major US-led coalition ally, playing a pivotal role in defeating ISIS in the region in 2019.
However, following the end of former President Bashar al-Assad’s tenure in December 2024, the US has sought to improve relations with Syria’s new government in Damascus.
Meanwhile, CENTCOM reported that between February 3 and 12, over 30 ISIS targets in Syria were struck, including infrastructure sites and weapons caches.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio commented that Washington is satisfied with the recent developments in Syria, but noted that implementing agreements with the Kurdish minority and other groups will remain challenging.
He emphasized that in a diverse society like Syria, political reconciliation must include all communities, including Druze, Bedouins, and Alawites.
The transfer of the Al-Shaddadi base marks a significant step in Syria’s efforts to reassert sovereignty over key military installations while balancing ongoing security challenges posed by remnants of ISIS and regional geopolitical interests.