US Withdrawal Allows Syrian Army to Seize Strategic Al-Shaddadi Base

US Forces Withdraw from Syrian Base as Ceasefire Takes Hold

The Syrian army has taken control of the al-Shaddadi military base in the northeast of the country, following the withdrawal of US troops. The move is part of a ceasefire agreement with Kurdish-led forces, which was coordinated with the US.

According to the Syrian Ministry of Defence, “forces of the Syrian Arab Army have taken over the al-Shaddadi military base in the Hasakah countryside following coordination with the American side”. The US had been operating at the base since 2016, after it was seized from ISIL (ISIS) by Kurdish-led forces.

The Syrian army also took control of a US base near the border with Iraq and Jordan on Thursday. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that the implementation of the ceasefire agreement is “headed in a positive direction”. He noted that similar agreements need to be reached with other communities in the country.

Residents near al-Shaddadi reported hearing explosions and seeing fires at the base as US forces prepared to leave. The US has been reducing its military presence in Syria, from 1,500 personnel in July to around 900 currently. The country is consolidating its ground presence in Jordan, while continuing to carry out air strikes on ISIL targets in Syria.

US Central Command announced that it conducted 10 air strikes on 30 targets during a recent period, and killed or captured over 50 people. Admiral Brad Cooper stated that US forces remain poised to respond to any ISIS threats that arise.

Source: Al Jazeera