US quietly withdraws troops from Syria to Iraq

According to a report by Lebanon-based al-Mayadeen television, the US military has begun evacuating some of its military bases in northeastern Syria, transferring personnel and equipment to Iraq.

This development follows the agreement signed on March 10 between Hayat Tahrir al-Sham’s (HTS) interim administration and the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which stipulates the integration of SDF forces into the Syrian army. According to the report, after the agreement, the US began removing some military bases in northeastern Syria from mid-March, quietly transferring equipment and personnel to Iraq.

Specifically, it was reported that some US soldiers at the Vezir Base in the western countryside of Hasakah and in the city of Shaddadi were transferred by helicopters to US bases within the borders of the Iraqi Kurdistan Regional Government.

In addition, it was reported that the American military presence in regions such as the Conoco gas field, Yeşilköy, and the Ömer oil field has decreased. It was stated that military vehicles and personnel were transported to the Shaddadi base before shipment and sent to Iraq from there.

Al-Mayadeen’s report, based on field observations, stated that US helicopters and unmanned aerial vehicles have been conducting intense flights in the Deir ez-Zor, Hasakah, and Qamishli regions in recent days. It was also noted that some helicopters accompanied military convoys traveling from Hasakah to the IKBY from the air.

This development comes both after the “integration” agreement signed between HTS and the SDF, and at a time when allegations have been made that Türkiye and Israel are holding talks for a “non-conflict agreement” to prevent a possible escalation in Syria.

The US administration has not yet made an official statement regarding reducing its military presence in Syria or the withdrawal process. Al-Mayadeen wrote that SDF sources also stated that they had not received any official notification from the US.