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US Begins Withdrawal from Key Military Base in Northeastern Syria, Redeploys Forces to Iraq
The US starts withdrawing from its Qasrak base in northeastern Syria, redeploying troops and equipment to northern Iraq. Full withdrawal could take weeks.
ND
by News Desk
2026-02-23
US Begins Withdrawal from Key Military Base in Northeastern Syria, Redeploys Forces to Iraq

The United States has begun the first phase of its military withdrawal from the Qasrak base in northeastern Syria, redeploying troops and equipment to northern Iraq. The operation, expected to last several weeks, marks a significant shift in US military posture in the region.

Heavy machinery, personnel, and trucks carrying armored vehicles were observed moving from Qasrak on Monday toward the semi-autonomous Kurdish region of northern Iraq. Sensitive high-tech equipment is also being transferred, a process that could take additional weeks.

The first phase of the withdrawal included the relocation of soldiers and resources from the al-Shaddadi base south of Hasakah and the al-Omar oilfield in Deir Az Zor province. Reinforcements at these locations were previously moved to Qasrak in preparation for the operation. Syrian government forces gained full control of al-Shaddadi on February 15.

The US has been steadily reducing its presence in Syria over recent months, decreasing from 1,500 personnel in July 2025 to roughly 900 currently. Even after a full withdrawal from Qasrak, US forces will maintain a presence at a base in Rmelan near the Iraqi border.

The US-trained, Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) previously controlled large portions of northern and eastern Syria until January. Following territorial losses during clashes with government forces, the SDF reached an agreement to integrate with the Syrian army. The Syrian military also assumed control of the US base at al-Tanf, located near the Iraq-Jordan border.

Once Washington’s primary Syrian ally in the fight against ISIL (ISIS), the SDF’s role has diminished as the Trump administration has strengthened ties with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa following the fall of former leader Bashar al-Assad in December 2024.

The redeployment signals a continued shift in US strategy in Syria and Iraq, balancing the reduction of forces in Syria while maintaining a military foothold in the broader region.
Tagged:

Syria

USMilitary

QasrakBase

NorthernIraq
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