US forces were seen leaving one of their last bases in Syria on February 23.
“The United States on Monday began withdrawing from Qasrak Base in Hasaka, northeastern Syria (Rojava), transferring equipment to Iraq,” Rudaw Kurdish media reported. Many videos online showed vehicles leaving the base in a convoy.
The US has already withdrawn from other bases in Syria over the last month, including the Tanf garrison in southern Syria and the Shaddadi base in eastern Syria.
The withdrawal from Qasrak would essentially mean the US has now left Syria.
The US role in Syria began in 2014 when the US-led Coalition against ISIS carried out airstrikes. In 2015, the US backed the creation of the Syrian Democratic Forces. Since 2018, there have been plans for the US to leave Syria. However, American forces stayed to support the SDF.
When the new Syrian government agreed with the SDF to integrate the SDF into its security forces, the US chose to draw down its forces. Syria also joined the anti-ISIS coalition. This has left fewer reasons for the US to remain.
Rudaw noted that “a Rudaw team witnessed a convoy of dozens of trucks carrying armored vehicles and prefabricated structures traveling along the road connecting Qasrak Base in Hasaka province to the Iraqi border.”
Syrian government expects US to leave within month
The Syrian government also told the AFP that it expected the US to leave within a month. It was not clear if that meant within the month of February or by mid-March. “The withdrawal from the Qasrak Base is expected to take 20 days,” Rudaw noted, which indicates that this may take until mid-March.
“Officials have not yet provided details on the timeline for the full withdrawal or the future status of US operations in the region,” Rudaw added.
The withdrawal of US forces coincides with the closure of the camps and prisons used to detain ISIS members.
Around 30 prisons and camps existed. This included two large camps called Al-Hol and Roj.
Al-Hol camp is apparently closing, with some 20,000 ISIS-linked families having left. Most of the people at Al-Hol were children. Some Iraqi families at Al-Hol apparently do not want to leave. It’s unclear if the authorities will forcibly relocate them.
Another camp called Roj camp is still controlled by the SDF and it is also expected to close. This would essentially end key aspects of the ISIS war in Syria. Nevertheless, the ISIS threat remains in Syria. The US continues to use air power to monitor ISIS threats.