DAMASCUS, April 16 (Xinhua) -- Syrian government forces have taken control of Qasrak Air Base in the northeastern province of Hasakah following the withdrawal of U.S.-led coalition troops, the Defense Ministry said Thursday.
Qasrak has been a key coalition hub in Hasakah since 2018, allegedly supporting operations against the Islamic State group in coordination with the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).
U.S. forces began withdrawing equipment and personnel from Qasrak in late February, with convoys of armored vehicles and heavy machinery reportedly moving toward neighboring Iraq.
This transfer is part of a broader U.S. troop drawdown in Syria. In February, Syrian forces took control of the al-Tanf base near the borders with Iraq and Jordan, as well as the al-Shaddadi base in Hasakah province. Control of the Rmeilan base near the Iraqi border was also transferred in mid-March.
The withdrawals come amid ongoing coordination between the Syrian government and the SDF to integrate Kurdish-led institutions and security forces into the state framework.
Tensions persist in parts of northeastern Syria, where coalition positions have faced sporadic drone and rocket attacks in recent months. Most have been intercepted, with no casualties confirmed. ■
