Syrian army takes control of Al-Tanf base following US withdrawal

On February 12, 2026, the Syrian Ministry of Defense announced that its military units took control of the Al-Tanf base in southwestern Syria. The base, located near the borders with Jordan and Iraq, was handed over following the complete withdrawal of United States forces. This transition was reportedly carried out through coordination between the Syrian and American sides. According to Syrian military sources, the US withdrawal process had begun approximately 15 days prior to the takeover. While US forces have vacated Al-Tanf, they reportedly intend to maintain coordination with Syria from Jordan. International coalition forces remain positioned in northeastern Syria, in areas previously under Syrian control. The Al-Tanf base had been occupied by the US-led coalition as part of the campaign against the Islamic State since 2014. Despite the withdrawal, sleeper cells of the Islamic State are noted to persist in the surrounding desert regions.