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US Withdraws From al-Tanf Base, Hands Control to Syria

Is the al-Tanf withdrawal a strategic transition to Syrian control or a dangerous abandonment of vital Middle East leverage?
US Withdraws From al-Tanf Base, Hands Control to Syria
Above: U.S. forces patrol oil fields near Syria's northeastern border with Turkey on Sept. 3, 2024. Image credit: Delil Soulleiman/AFP/Getty Images

The Spin

Narrative A

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.

Narrative B

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.

Metaculus Prediction



The Controversies



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© 2026 Improve the News Foundation. All rights reserved.Version 6.18.0

© 2026 Improve the News Foundation.

All rights reserved.

Version 6.18.0