Syrian Army Takes Control of Qasrak Air Base After US-Led Coalition Withdrawal

The Syrian government announced on April 16, 2026, that its army forces have taken full control of the strategic Qasrak air base in Hasakeh province, northeastern Syria. This development follows the complete withdrawal of U.S.-led international coalition forces from the facility, which previously served as a critical logistics hub for military operations against the Islamic State group. According to a statement by the Syrian Defence Ministry reported by state news agency SANA, the base is now empty of American troops. An AFP correspondent observed U.S. military convoys moving toward the Iraqi border, confirming the pullout. This event marks another significant step in the expansion of Syria's new Islamist government into northeast regions formerly held by U.S.-allied Kurdish forces. It follows similar takeovers of the Rmeilan, Al-Tanf, and Shadadi bases earlier this year. The transition occurs amidst a broader agreement to integrate Kurdish military and civilian institutions into the Syrian state after recent clashes. The U.S. intervention, which began in 2014 to combat IS, is effectively ending as Washington deems its alliance with Kurdish forces largely concluded.