By Gloria Ogbonna
The United States Central Command (CENTCOM) announced Thursday that it has officially completed the orderly withdrawal of American forces from the al-Tanf Garrison in southern Syria.
The move fulfills what officials described as a “deliberate and conditions-based” plan to transition control of the strategic military base to Syria’s national armed forces.
According to U.S. defense officials, the final group of American troops departed the base on Wednesday. Shortly afterward, Syria’s Defense Ministry confirmed that units of the Syrian Arab Army assumed control of the installation.
Syrian officials described the handover as coordinated and conducted with full cooperation between American and Syrian authorities.
The Syrian Defense Ministry further stated that its forces have already begun deploying along the critical Syrian-Iraqi-Jordanian border region.
Border guard units are expected to reinforce the area in the coming days, signaling an effort to secure the strategically sensitive corridor. Two sources told Reuters that U.S. troops previously stationed at al-Tanf are being repositioned to neighboring Jordan.
The al-Tanf base, situated near the tri-border area of Syria, Jordan, and Iraq, has been under the control of the U.S.-led coalition combating ISIS since 2014. It played a central role in operations against the terrorist group during the height of its territorial expansion.
CENTCOM said the transition aligns with longstanding U.S. policy to consolidate its military footprint in Syria following the territorial defeat of ISIS in 2019.
Despite the withdrawal, CENTCOM emphasized that the United States remains committed to counterterrorism efforts in the region. Adm. Brad Cooper, commander of CENTCOM, said U.S. forces “remain poised to respond to any ISIS threats that arise” and will continue supporting partner-led initiatives aimed at preventing the extremist group’s resurgence.
He underscored that sustained pressure on ISIS is vital to protecting U.S. national security and maintaining regional stability.
In recent months, CENTCOM reported conducting over 100 strikes using more than 350 precision munitions against ISIS remnants in Syria. These operations have reportedly resulted in the capture or elimination of more than 50 ISIS fighters, reflecting ongoing efforts to dismantle the group’s remaining networks.
Although ISIS’s self-declared “caliphate” was dismantled in 2019, al-Tanf remained strategically significant. Analysts have long viewed the base as a critical foothold in countering Iranian influence in the region, particularly because of its location along key land routes linking Damascus and Tehran. Its presence complicated potential weapons transfers to Hezbollah in Lebanon.
However, the political landscape in Syria shifted dramatically in December 2024, when a coalition of insurgent and jihadist factions overthrew longtime Syrian ruler Bashar al-Assad in a surprise offensive on Damascus. A new military-led government emerged under the leadership of Ahmed al-Sharaa, a former al-Qaeda commander who has since repositioned himself as a national leader promising a more inclusive and unified Syria.
Sharaa’s administration formally joined the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS in November 2025, a move seen as an attempt to legitimize his government internationally. Donald Trump has expressed confidence in Sharaa’s ability to stabilize Syria and unify its fragmented armed factions under a central command structure.
However, that effort has not been without friction, as Sharaa’s forces have clashed with semi-autonomous groups such as the Druze and Kurdish factions.
Experts remain divided on the wisdom of handing over al-Tanf to Syria’s new leadership. David Adesnik of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies warned that Washington may be taking a calculated but risky gamble.
He noted concerns that Sharaa’s army includes thousands of former jihadist fighters and questioned whether it will effectively block Iranian weapons shipments destined for Hezbollah.
Former Pentagon official Daniel Shapiro of the Atlantic Council offered a more measured view, describing the transfer as “probably the right gamble,” while acknowledging uncertainty over whether Syria’s new government will meet U.S. expectations.
The withdrawal from al-Tanf marks a significant chapter in America’s evolving strategy in Syria—one that reflects both shifting regional dynamics and the complex balance between counterterrorism priorities and geopolitical influence.
Source Breitbart
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