The withdrawal from al-Tanf marks a successful strategic transition after a decade of coalition presence, with Syrian forces now securing the tri-border region as part of coordinated efforts between Damascus and Washington. The handover reflects Syria's integration into the anti-ISIS coalition and demonstrates progress toward national unity following the end of Assad's regime. American forces remain positioned to respond to threats while Syrian government troops take responsibility for border security and counterterrorism operations.
Abandoning al-Tanf exposes a dangerous contradiction — handing over one of the most strategically vital bases in the Middle East to a government led by a former al-Qaeda commander while simultaneously evacuating 5,000 ISIS prisoners because Damascus can't be trusted to guard them. This hasty withdrawal squanders critical leverage, signals unreliability to regional partners like Jordan and Israel, and repeats the catastrophic mistake of declaring victory prematurely before conditions warrant departure.
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