American forces have begun withdrawing their personnel from Syria toward Iraqi Kurdistan, Al Jazeera’s correspondent reports. The first phase of the operation, which is expected to last several weeks, began from the largest US base in the country — "al-Kasrak" in the northwest of al-Hasakah province. At the initial stage, troops and equipment were moved to this base from other sites — the "ash-Shaddadi" base in southern al-Hasakah and the "al-Omar" oil field in Deir ez-Zor province — as preparation for the overall retreat.
The American contingent has already fully left the "ash-Shaddadi" base after more than ten days of evacuation operations that made intensive use of air and ground transport. After direct coordination with Washington, this base was officially taken over by the Syrian army. Thus, according to the correspondent, the US military presence in Syria is now limited to only two bases — "ar-Rumaylan" and "al-Kasrak", which are located in areas controlled by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). This significantly changes the disposition of American forces in the northeast of the country.
These steps are taking place within a broader regional context. They come against the backdrop of a comprehensive agreement announced at the end of January between the Syrian government and the SDF, which provides for the end of the split and the integration of military and administrative structures. In addition, the troop withdrawal coincides with reports of a gradual reduction of the American presence in the region since mid-2025, during which other facilities in the rural areas of Deir ez-Zor and al-Hasakah provinces were also abandoned.
Full version: القوات الأمريكية تبدأ الانسحاب من أكبر قواعدها في سوريا