Syria's army takes over Al-Shadadi base from U.S. forces
Syria's army takes over Al-Shadadi base from U.S. forces
Syria's Defence Ministry says its forces seized the Al-Shadadi base in Hasakeh countryside after coordinating with the U.S., as airstrikes against ISIS targets continue.
Syria's Defence Ministry announced on Sunday that the Syrian Arab Army had taken control of the Al-Shadadi military base in the Hasakeh countryside, following coordination with the American side. The base had been operated by U.S. forces as part of the coalition against the Islamic State group, positioned outside the town of Al-Shadadi. The move comes days after Damascus said it had also assumed control of a facility near the Jordan-Iraq borders.
U.S. forces had used the Al-Shadadi base to back Kurdish-led partner units in the fight against IS, including a prison near the town where ISIS members were detained before government advances in the region last month. The development follows Washington's confirmation that it vacated the Al-Tanf base near Syria’s borders with Jordan and Iraq earlier in the week, signaling a shift in the U.S. military footprint in the area amid broader realignments with Damascus.
Despite the loss of a base, the fight against ISIS continues, with U.S. Central Command reporting more than 30 IS targets struck in Syria between February 3 and February 12. The air strikes targeted infrastructure and weapons storage sites, underscoring that, even as alliances evolve, the campaign against IS remains active. The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces had been a major partner in the coalition’s campaign, but the latest moves illustrate changing dynamics as the new government in Damascus asserts greater control over territory previously held with coalition support.
As the region recalibrates, observers note that the Al-Shadadi base handover reflects broader shifts in regional security posture, with implications for local security arrangements, Kurdish forces, and civilians in the northeast of Syria. The evolving balance could influence future cooperation and confrontation patterns in one of the most complex theatres of the Syrian conflict.
