U.S. Military Begins Withdrawal from Largest Base in Northeastern Syria

U.S. forces have begun withdrawing from their largest base in northeastern Syria, the Qasrak base, moving equipment and personnel toward Iraq's Kurdish region. This drawdown follows recent withdrawals from al-Tanf and al-Shadadi bases and coincides with Syria's government expanding control over the northeast, including integrating Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces into its military. The withdrawal, expected to take several weeks to a month, marks the end of an 11-year U.S. military presence focused on combating Islamic State militants in the region.