U.S. troops have completed their withdrawal from Syria, handing over their remaining bases to government forces in a move that ends a decade-long American military presence focused on fighting ISIS. 

A U.S. official confirmed to Al-Monitor the move saying, “U.S. forces have completed turning over all of our major bases in Syria, as part of a deliberate and conditions-based transition.”

The U.S. withdrawal was carried out over the past year, with several pauses due to concerns over instability and the security of thousands of ISIS detainees held in makeshift prisons. In January, renewed fighting in northeastern Syria prompted the U.S Central Command to authorize the airlift of several thousand ISIS prisoners to Iraq.

The final withdrawal included the departure of troops and equipment from the Qasrak air base in northeastern Hasakah province, the last installation under American control. Syrian forces have since taken over the site, including its airstrip.

In a post on X, Charles Lister, director of the Syria Program at the Middle East Institute, a Washington-based think tank, said the force that took over the base was the Syrian army’s 60th Division, made up largely of Kurdish fighters affiliated with the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), a longtime U.S. partner.

He added that U.S. troops and equipment departed Syria via Jordan to avoid possible attacks by Iranian-backed paramilitaries in Iraq.

Here’s the #Syria Army’s 60th Division entering the Qasrak Base (with airstrip) in #Hasakeh today, following the withdrawal of U.S. forces.

Note — the 60th Division is in-formation & will primarily constitute Kurdish #SDF fighters, with Ciya Kobani named its Deputy Commander. https://t.co/zlwFEM3njm pic.twitter.com/EIccf1YqHR

— Charles Lister (@Charles_Lister) April 16, 2026

In a statement, the Syrian Foreign Ministry confirmed the completed handover of military sites to the Syrian government.

The Foreign Ministry added that the transfer of bases demonstrates Syria’s “assumption of full responsibility for combating terrorism and addressing regional threats on its territory.”

“The Syrian state is today fully capable of leading counterterrorism efforts from within, in cooperation with the international community,” the statement said.

The exit concludes roughly 10 years of U.S. military involvement in Syria, where American troops trained and supported the SDF in operations that led to ISIS losing its last territorial stronghold in 2019.

At its peak, the U.S. maintained about 1,000 troops in the country. Over time, the mission expanded beyond counterterrorism to include efforts to contain Iranian influence in the region.

The push for withdrawal gained momentum following the rise of Syria’s new president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, who took power after the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad in December 2024. Washington has since backed the new government and supported negotiations between Damascus and the SDF.

Although U.S. troops have withdrawn from their bases in Syria, they continue to work with the Interior Ministry in Damascus to monitor remaining ISIS elements. The Trump administration is seeking $130 million to fund local counter-ISIS forces in Syria for the next fiscal year, the same amount Congress allocated this year.

“U.S. forces continue to support partner-led counterterrorism efforts, which are essential to ensuring the enduring defeat of ISIS and strengthening regional security,” a source cited by Al-Monitor said.