On Thursday, the Syrian military reassured the new government about its capacity to tackle the challenges posed by the Islamic State and other terrorist groups, marking the takeover of the last U.S. military base in the country.
The final convoy of American forces departed from Qasraq Air Base in northeastern Syria’s Hasakah province, concluding a withdrawal that began following a reconciliation between Syria’s central government and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which had been hesitant to relinquish its autonomy.
American troops had been based in Qasraq since 2014, collaborating with the SDF to combat the Islamic State. This process began in February when U.S. forces exited two other key bases, Al Tanf and Shadadi. Reports suggested that Iran had deployed drones to assault Qasraq during Operation Epic Fury, potentially delaying the U.S. exit by several weeks.
Had the SDF engaged in conflict with the Syrian central government, it might have led to further delays. That was a real risk earlier this year when the SDF settled differences through a unity agreement, signed on January 18, promising to protect their customs and culture in exchange for autonomy.
The Syrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on Thursday that a deal reached in January aimed at integrating the Self-Defense Forces militia into the Syrian National Army, facilitating the U.S. military’s handover of the air base. This decision was also perceived as positive by the Syrian side. In November 2025, the country is set to officially join the U.S.-led Global Coalition against ISIS.
The Foreign Ministry expressed its approval of the withdrawal, calling it a “full handover to the Syrian government of military bases previously occupied by U.S. forces,” and noted it as a sign of “complete coordination” between Syrian and U.S. governments, stating that “the reasons that justified the presence of U.S. forces in Syria have fundamentally changed.”
“The Syrian state is now fully equipped to lead counter-terrorism operations in collaboration with the international community,” the Ministry added.
“The U.S. military has successfully completed the transfer of all major bases in Syria as part of a planned, conditions-based withdrawal,” stated CENTCOM spokesperson Capt. Tim Hawkins.
The current Syrian government assumed power in December 2024 amid a coalition of rebel groups and jihadists. The coalition swiftly captured Damascus, marking the end of Bashar al-Assad’s long and brutal regime. His backers, Russia and Iran, were too weakened by prior conflicts to provide support at that crucial moment.
The new government includes factions with concerning connections to Islamist terrorism. For instance, President Ahmed al-Shalah, a former al-Qaeda operative, was captured during an attack against U.S. forces in Iraq.
Regardless of his past, Shara’a has committed to running an inclusive administration that won’t support or allow terrorists. His track record on these vows is, well, mixed. Still, he has garnered and maintained support from former President Trump while aiming to fulfill security commitments.
The Syrian Kurds are understandably cautious about Shara’a. They harbor deep mistrust toward the jihadist components in his government, feeling that his experience as an autonomous entity and military ally of the U.S. should warrant some respect.
Unfortunately for the Kurds, Türkiye is another influential factor in this transition. Turkey strongly opposes all Kurdish military groups, seeing them as extensions of the PKK, its separatist organization. Ankara has supported Shara’a’s regime, on the condition that he addresses concerns regarding the Kurdish presence near its borders.
On Thursday, Shara’a attended the Antalya Diplomatic Forum in Turkey, which has gained significant relevance this year amid tensions between the U.S. and Iran. He was involved in a special meeting with Tom Barrack, former President Trump’s envoy to Syria, along with the Syrian Foreign Secretary and the Head of Intelligence.
In late January, Barrack noted that the SDF’s role as the “primary ground force against ISIS” was “nearly over” and stated that the new unity government was “ready to take on security duties.”
“Traditionally, the justification for U.S. troops in northeastern Syria has rested largely on their cooperation in combating ISIS,” Barrack remarked, highlighting the recent U.S. troop withdrawals.
On the same day, Shara’a also met with SDF leader Mazloum Abdi and Kurdish official Ilham Ahmad, among others, discussing the complete execution of the SDF unity agreement, which includes integrating Kurdish fighters into the national army.
