U.S. Forces Withdraw from Largest Military Base in Syria

U.S. forces have begun withdrawing from one of their largest military bases in northeastern Syria, signaling a significant shift in Washington’s military posture in the country.

The base holds major strategic importance due to its geographic location. Situated approximately 50 kilometers west of the city of Qamishli, the facility lies near areas where Russian forces had previously been deployed around Ras al-Ayn. The area has also seen the presence of Syrian government-aligned forces, including former opposition factions that controlled territories stretching from Ras al-Ayn and Abu Rasin to the town of Tal Tamr.

The base had served as a frontline position in operations against the Islamic State group, with military confrontations in the surrounding areas extending toward the countryside of Hasakah, Raqqa, and Deir ez-Zor provinces. The withdrawal is seen as an indicator of a broader U.S. trend toward vacating military installations across Syria.

Reports indicate that U.S. military vehicles and transport carriers have departed from the Rmeilan base—also known as Kharab al-Jir—heading toward the Syrian-Iraqi border. The movement suggests the possibility of a full American withdrawal from northeastern Syria within the coming month.

The withdrawal reportedly includes the Al-Shaddadi and Al-Tanf bases, which were vacated earlier this month. Syrian Ministry of Defense forces subsequently entered those sites. However, the current base falls within territory controlled by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), meaning Syrian government forces are not expected to enter immediately.

Syrian Ministry of Defense units are currently stationed in Abu Rasin and Ras al-Ayn, roughly 30 kilometers from the base, and could advance once the U.S. withdrawal is complete. Ongoing understandings between U.S. forces and the SDF are expected to remain the decisive factor shaping developments on the ground in the coming weeks.