Syrian government forces have taken control of the al-Shaddadi military base in northeastern Syria following the withdrawal of U.S. troops, Damascus announced on Sunday. The handover of the base in Hasakah countryside was carried out in coordination with the United States, according to Syria’s Ministry of Defence.
The U.S. military had maintained a presence at al-Shaddadi since 2016 as part of the coalition against the Islamic State group (ISIL), operating alongside Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). The withdrawal comes amid a broader shift in Syria’s conflict dynamics and an ongoing ceasefire arrangement with Kurdish forces.
The takeover of al-Shaddadi follows the recent transfer of control of another key position, the al-Tanf base in southern Syria near the Iraqi and Jordanian borders, which the Syrian army assumed after American troops pulled out earlier this week.
U.S. officials have characterised the base handovers as part of a conditions-based transition that consolidates coalition efforts and maintains pressure against ISIL remnants, even as Washington reduces its direct footprint in the country. Syrian authorities say the move reinforces the government’s restoration of sovereignty over previously foreign-held military sites.
The evolving presence of government forces in areas formerly controlled by U.S. and Kurdish units signals a significant shift in Syria’s security landscape, with implications for regional power balances and the future of anti-insurgent operations.