The United States has closed two military bases in Syria and handed over another to the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) as part of a reduction in its military presence in the country. Over the past few weeks, U.S. Central Command has withdrawn around 500 troops from the Arab republic, a Pentagon representative told the Saudi television channel Al Arabiya.
“About 500 American troops have been withdrawn from Syria. Two military bases located in the country have been shut down, and another has been handed over to the Syrian Democratic Forces. The consolidation of U.S. troops in Syria is safe and well-considered,” Al Arabiya quoted the American official as saying.
According to the channel, Kurdish forces will take control of the Mission Support Site Euphrates base. Among the two closed U.S. bases, the source mentioned Mission Support Site Green Village. The name of the second base that was shut down was not disclosed.
Between 2015 and 2018, the U.S. established nine military bases and three outposts in Kurdish-controlled areas of Syria. These are located in the provinces of Aleppo, Deir ez-Zor, Raqqa, and Hasakah, as well as the Al-Tanf area near the borders with Iraq and Jordan. A total of 2,200 American troops were stationed at these sites. In April of this year, the Pentagon announced plans to reduce its presence in Syria, leaving fewer than 1,000 U.S. troops in the country.