US Leaves Syria After 10 Years Amidst Shifting Alliances and Renewed ISIS Threats
The last remaining US troops in Syria departed their Hasakah base on Thursday, concluding a decade-long mission against the Islamic State group. Following this withdrawal, Syrian military forces, primarily Kurdish fighters affiliated with the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), took control of the Qasrak base, including its airstrip. This handover signifies the Syrian government’s assumption of responsibility for combating terrorism and regional threats on its territory, following President Ahmed al-Sharaa’s victory over Bashar al-Assad and a US-facilitated agreement for Damascus to lead the fight against militant groups. The withdrawal also occurred via Jordan to avoid potential attacks from Iranian-backed paramilitaries in Iraq.