Syrian government forces have gained control of a base located in the eastern region of the country that was previously managed by U.S. troops in the fight against the Islamic State group, as per a statement issued by the defense ministry on Thursday. This development follows the revelation that the nation’s acting president, Ahmad al-Sharaa, along with a few Syrian ministers, were the subjects of five thwarted assassination plots last year, according to a report disclosed by the United Nations on Wednesday.
The al-Tanf base is strategically positioned near the borders of Jordan and Iraq. The Syrian Defense Ministry, in a brief announcement, declared that the transfer of the base was executed in collaboration with the U.S. military, and Syrian forces are currently “securing the base and its surroundings.” Two unnamed U.S. officials corroborated the handover to Reuters.
Additionally, the Syrian Defense Ministry mentioned that Syrian troops are now stationed in the desert vicinity surrounding the al-Tanf garrison, with plans for border guards to be deployed in the upcoming days. This deployment of Syrian troops in the al-Tanf area comes subsequent to a recent agreement between the government and the U.S.-backed and Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) to unify within the military ranks.
The al-Tanf outpost has faced multiple drone attacks over recent years by Iran-affiliated groups. However, such assaults have markedly decreased since the downfall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime in Syria in December 2024 when rebel factions seized control of Damascus, prompting Assad to seek refuge in Russia.
The al-Tanf base played a pivotal role in combating the Islamic State group, which had declared a caliphate in significant parts of Syria and Iraq in 2014. The extremist organization was vanquished in Iraq in 2017 and in Syria two years later.
In recent weeks, the U.S. military has initiated the transfer of numerous ISIS detainees from SDF-run prisons in northeastern Syria to Iraq for prosecution.
President al-Sharaa has been consolidating his authority over the nation. Last month, government forces successfully took over extensive portions of northeast Syria following fierce clashes with the SDF. Subsequently, a ceasefire was negotiated between the government and the SDF.
The United Nations report detailed the assassination attempts targeting President al-Sharaa, Syria’s interior minister, Anas Hasan Khattab, and foreign minister, Asaad al-Shibani. The attempts were reportedly orchestrated by a group known as Saraya Ansar al-Sunnah, believed to be a front for the Islamic State group.
The UN report underscored that ISIS continues to pose a significant threat, aiming to destabilize the new Syrian government and exploit security vulnerabilities in the country. Counterterrorism experts estimate that the Islamic State group maintains around 3,000 fighters across Iraq and Syria, with the majority based in Syria, where they continue to operate, primarily targeting security forces, particularly in the northern and northeastern regions.
President al-Sharaa’s government recently joined an international coalition formed to combat the Islamic State group, which previously held sway over a substantial portion of Syria. Formerly, al-Sharaa led Hayar Tahrir al-Sham, a militant group with past ties to al-Qaeda, though the association was later severed.