Reuters reported on Tuesday, June 17, that the United States has withdrawn from two additional military bases in the countryside of Hasakah Governorate in northeastern Syria, bringing the total number of evacuated bases to four.
According to the agency, the Tal Baidar and al-Wazir rest bases were completely vacated and are now guarded by small units of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).
Reuters quoted Mazloum Abdi, Commander-in-Chief of the SDF, as saying that the U.S. withdrawal from northern and eastern Syria is paving the way for a resurgence of ISIS.
Abdi stated that the presence of only a few hundred American soldiers at a single military base would not be sufficient to counter the growing threat of the extremist group.
He emphasized that ISIS’s threat has increased significantly in recent weeks, although he expressed understanding of the American plan to reduce its military footprint in Syria.
Despite the drawdown, Abdi said the SDF continues to coordinate with U.S. forces to prevent security gaps and maintain pressure on ISIS.
He also voiced hope that the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran would not spread to Syria.
According to Abdi, ISIS sleeper cells have reactivated in several Syrian cities, including the capital, Damascus. He added that some foreign extremists who previously fought against the now-deposed regime have joined the organization’s ranks.
The SDF leader noted that ISIS seized weapons and ammunition from regime warehouses during the chaos that followed the regime’s collapse.
He further revealed that ISIS has launched a series of attacks in recent weeks, killing at least 10 members of the Syrian Democratic Forces and the Internal Security Forces in northern and eastern Syria.
Reuters also cited officials in northern and eastern Syria who said that ISIS is already moving openly near recently vacated American bases, particularly in Deir ez-Zor and Raqqa governorates, which were under the group’s control for several years.
With the latest evacuations, the total number of U.S. bases closed in Syria now stands at four, according to Reuters.
Earlier this month, U.S. envoy to Syria Thomas Barak stated that Washington intends to shut down all but one of its military bases in the country.
In an interview with Turkish broadcaster NTV, Barak said the United States has begun drawing down its military presence.
“We moved from eight bases to five, then to three, and we will most likely maintain only one base there,” he said.
Barak reaffirmed that the Syrian Democratic Forces remain a key U.S. ally in the fight against ISIS.
