The U.S. 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-IS coalition and demonstrates progress toward national unity following the end of Assad's regime.
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 IS prisoners because Damascus can't be trusted to guard them. This hasty withdrawal squanders critical leverage and signals unreliability to regional partners.
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