Syrian army takes control of al-Tanf base after US pullout

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Syria’s defense ministry announced Thursday that government forces have taken control of the strategic al-Tanf military base near the tri-border area of Syria, Jordan, and Iraq, following the withdrawal of US troops.

“Through coordination between the US and Syrian sides, Syrian army units have taken al-Tanf base, securing it and the surrounding area, and deploying along the Syrian-Jordanian-Iraqi border,” the ministry said in a statement.

It added that border forces would be deployed in the coming days.

The US Central Command confirmed the withdrawal in a statement on Thursday afternoon.

"U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) completed the orderly departure of U.S. forces from al-Tanf Garrison in Syria on Feb. 11 as part of a deliberate and conditions-based transition by Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve (CJTF-OIR)," the statement read.

CENTCOM commander Brad Cooper said that they will remain poised to respond to any ISIS threats that arise in the region as we support partner-led efforts to prevent the terrorist network’s resurgence."

“Maintaining pressure on ISIS is essential to protecting the U.S. homeland and strengthening regional security," he said.

Syria formally joined the US-led coalition against the Islamic State (ISIS) in November, after a landmark meeting between US President Donald Trump and Syrian interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa at the White House - the first such meeting with a Syrian leader in more than 80 years.

The al-Tanf base was established in 2014 during Syria’s civil war for coalition operations against ISIS.

The withdrawal follows a US-brokered deal that ended days of intense fighting between the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and Damascus-backed armed factions, including the Syrian Arab Army.

The SDF, the de facto military force in the autonomous region of Rojava, has served as the coalition’s primary ground partner in Syria for the past decade.

In mid-January, Syrian government forces and allied groups moved into several northeastern cities previously under SDF control.

After weeks of clashes, the SDF and Damascus announced on January 29 that they had reached an internationally brokered agreement to end hostilities and integrate Rojava’s civil and military institutions - including Kurdish-led forces - into state structures.

The US welcomed the agreement as a step toward unity and reconciliation in Syria.

According to a Pentagon announcement in July 2025, the United States had approximately 1,500 troops stationed in Syria.

Updated at 06:27pm with a CENTCOM statement