DAMASCUS, Feb. 12 (Xinhua) -- Syria's interim government on Thursday confirmed the withdrawal of U.S.-led international coalition from the al-Tanf military base at the Syria-Iraq-Jordan border junction, saying Syrian army units have taken control of the site.
In a statement, Syria's defense authorities said the handover followed coordination between Syrian and U.S. sides, with Syrian troops securing the base and its surroundings before beginning deployment across the border area in the al-Tanf desert region.
Border guard forces are expected to assume responsibility for the area in the coming days, the authorities added.
The al-Tanf base has been used by the coalition for years. Its surrounding area, known as the 55-km zone, served as a strategic point for monitoring Syria's eastern desert and key supply routes.
The withdrawal came amid broader discussions about reassessing foreign military deployments in Syria, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights noted, as shifting regional dynamics raise questions about the future of the al-Tanf area. ■
