Syria takes over Al-Shadadi base from US forces in the northeastern province of Hasakeh, the Syrian Defence Ministry announced on Sunday, marking another shift in the US military footprint inside the country.
The move comes just days after Washington confirmed it had vacated Al-Tanf base near Syria’s borders with Iraq and Jordan.
Damascus said the handover followed coordination with the American side, as military deployments are being rearranged after major political changes in Syria since late 2024.
Official Statement on Al-Shadadi Base Handover
In a statement, the Syrian Defence Ministry said forces of the Syrian Arab Army had taken control of the Al-Shadadi military base in the Hasakeh countryside following coordination with US forces.
American troops operating as part of the US-led international coalition against the Islamic State group had been stationed at the base outside the town of Al-Shadadi.
The town also housed a prison where Kurdish forces had detained members of the extremist group before government forces advanced into the area last month.
Al-Tanf Evacuation and Continued US Air Strikes
The announcement that Syria takes over Al-Shadadi base from US forces follows US confirmation on Thursday that its troops had left Al-Tanf base, located near the strategic tri-border area between Syria, Iraq and Jordan.
Al-Tanf had long been viewed as a key position due to its proximity to supply routes across the border region.
Despite vacating some positions, the United States says it continues operations against Islamic State cells. On Saturday, US Central Command stated that its forces carried out more than 30 air strikes in Syria between February 3 and 12, targeting:
Islamic State infrastructure
Weapons storage sites and logistical facilities
The statement said the strikes were aimed at limiting the group’s operational capabilities. Although IS lost territorial control in Syria in 2019, it remains active through dispersed cells.
Shifts in Relations with Kurdish Forces
The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces were a central partner of the US-led coalition in the fight against Islamic State beginning in 2014.
In January, Syrian authorities and Kurdish officials announced an agreement to integrate Kurdish forces and self-administered areas in northeast Syria into state institutions, following months of tensions and armed clashes.
During Syria’s conflict from 2011 to 2024, a de facto autonomous Kurdish administration had emerged in parts of the northeast.
After the fall of former president Bashar al-Assad in December 2024, Washington moved closer to the new government in Damascus, stating that the need for its previous military alliance with Kurdish forces had largely diminished.
Rubio Says US Pleased with Syria’s “Trajectory”
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Washington is satisfied with the overall “trajectory” in Syria, despite challenges.
Speaking during a visit to Bratislava, Rubio acknowledged that some days had been “very concerning,” but said there were solid agreements in place and that the process should remain on its current path.
He stressed that the agreement between Syrian authorities and Kurdish groups must now be implemented and noted the importance of reaching understandings with other components of Syrian society, including:
Druze communities
Bedouin groups
Alawites
Rubio defended the administration of President Donald Trump for backing Syrian leader Ahmad al-Sharaa, whose Islamist-led forces removed Assad from power, arguing that maintaining Syria’s territorial unity is preferable to fragmentation and prolonged conflict.
Conclusion:
The transfer of Al-Shadadi base highlights ongoing changes in Syria’s military and political landscape. While US forces reduce their presence at certain sites, air operations against Islamic State continue, and Damascus advances efforts to consolidate authority across the country.
