U.S.-Led International Coalition Reportedly Completes Full Withdrawal from Strategic Al-Tanf Base in Syria
The U.S.-led International Coalition has fully withdrawn its military forces from the Al-Tanf garrison in southeastern Syria, effectively ending a years-long presence at the strategic tri-border area shared with Iraq and Jordan, according to reports from the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) on Wednesday.
SOHR sources indicate that coalition convoys were observed departing the base and crossing the border into Jordan. Following the evacuation, the military installation was reportedly handed over to the Syrian Ministry of Defense. This development marks a significant shift in the geopolitical landscape of the region, as Al-Tanf has long been considered a critical outpost for American interests in the Middle East.
Established in 2016 during the height of the campaign against the Islamic State (ISIS), the Al-Tanf base was surrounded by a 55-kilometer “deconfliction zone.” Its location on the key M2 Baghdad–Damascus highway gave it immense strategic value, serving a dual purpose: supporting local partner forces in counter-ISIS operations and disrupting the establishment of a land corridor that could allow Iran to transfer weapons and personnel across Iraq and Syria to Lebanon.
The withdrawal follows recent unconfirmed reports and speculation regarding a broader U.S. reassessment of its military footprint in Syria. In the weeks leading up to this reported departure, there were indications of similar movements from other coalition bases in northeastern Syria, including Al-Shaddadi. While the Syrian government has frequently called for the removal of U.S. troops, viewing their presence as a violation of sovereignty, the base remained a flashpoint for tensions between Washington and Damascus, as well as Iranian-backed militias operating in the Syrian desert.
As of the time of this report, neither the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) nor the Global Coalition has issued an official statement confirming the completion of the withdrawal or the transfer of the facility to Syrian government control. If confirmed, the exit from Al-Tanf would represent the conclusion of a major chapter in the U.S. military intervention in the Syrian conflict, potentially reshaping security dynamics along the Syria-Jordan border. Analysts suggest that the vacuum left by the coalition could lead to a rapid reassertion of authority by the Syrian central government and its allies in this sparsely populated but strategically vital desert region.
* shafaq.com
* news.cn
* thecradle.co
* wikipedia.org
* israel-alma.org
* thecradle.co
* stratfor.com
* youtube.com
