Micah Jonah
February 16, 2026
The Syrian army has taken control of the al-Shaddadi military base in the country’s northeast following the withdrawal of United States troops, in what authorities described as part of an ongoing ceasefire arrangement with the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces.
Syria’s Ministry of Defence confirmed that forces of the Syrian Arab Army moved into the base located in the Hasakah countryside after coordination with the US side.
The United States had operated in al-Shaddadi since 2016 after Kurdish-led fighters seized the area from ISIL. The latest development follows Thursday’s takeover of another former US position at al-Tanf near the borders with Iraq and Jordan.
US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio said implementation of the ceasefire agreement was progressing positively, though he acknowledged that some recent developments had raised concerns.
He added that further agreements would be needed with Syria’s Druze, Bedouin and Alawite communities to stabilize the country.
Residents around al-Shaddadi reported hearing explosions and seeing fires at the base in recent days, as US forces reportedly destroyed equipment ahead of their departure.
The move comes amid a broader shift in US strategy in Syria, with Washington reducing its military presence from about 1,500 personnel in July to roughly 900 currently. The US has been consolidating operations, including at Tower 22 in Jordan.
Despite the reduced footprint, US Central Command said it continues to carry out air operations against ISIL targets in Syria. United States Central Command disclosed that it conducted 10 air strikes on 30 targets between February 3 and 12, killing or capturing more than 50 suspects over the past two months.
CENTCOM commander, Admiral Brad Cooper stated that US forces remain ready to respond to any resurgence of ISIL threats.
Analysts say the handover of strategic bases to Syrian government forces marks a significant development in the country’s fragile security landscape as regional powers continue to recalibrate their involvement in the conflict.
