Syrian government forces have seized control of a base in eastern Syria previously operated by U.S. troops in the fight against the Islamic State group, the defense ministry announced on Thursday. This development follows a United Nations report revealing that the country’s interim president, Ahmad al-Sharaa, and two Syrian ministers narrowly escaped five assassination attempts last year.
The al-Tanf base, strategically located near the Jordan and Iraq borders, was handed over by the U.S. military in coordination with Syrian forces. The Syrian Defense Ministry confirmed the handover, stating that Syrian troops are now securing the base and its surroundings, with plans for border guards to be deployed in the area soon.
Furthermore, recent agreements have led to Syrian troops being deployed at the al-Tanf garrison and its vicinity following a merger between government forces and the U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). Attacks on the al-Tanf base by Iran-backed groups have significantly decreased since the downfall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime in December 2024.
The al-Tanf base played a crucial role in combating the Islamic State group’s caliphate in Syria and Iraq, with ISIS prisoners now being transferred from SDF-run prisons in northeastern Syria to Iraq for prosecution. The UN report detailing the assassination attempts on Syrian officials highlights the ongoing threat posed by ISIS in Syria, with an estimated 3,000 fighters still active in the region.
President al-Sharaa’s government has expanded its control over Syria, securing territories after clashes with the SDF, and entering a ceasefire agreement with the opposing faction. Al-Sharaa’s previous leadership of Hayar Tahrir al-Sham, a group formerly linked to al-Qaeda, underscores the complex dynamics in the region.