Damascus welcomes handover of US military sites in Syria
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – The Syrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs welcomed on Thursday what it described as the ongoing and final handover of military sites previously used by US forces in Syria to the Syrian government.
In a statement, the ministry said the restoration of state authority over areas that were outside its control, including parts of northeast Syria and border regions, reflects continued efforts by Damascus to unify the country under a single state framework.
Earlier in the day, North Press published exclusive images from inside Qasrak base following the withdrawal of US forces, showing damage to parts of the facility before it was handed over.
The ministry stated that the completion of the transfer of US military sites comes as a result of what it described as the integration of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) into national structures, and the state assuming full responsibility for combating terrorism and addressing regional threats on its territory.
It added that the US decision to end its military mission in Syria reflects what it called a shared assessment that the conditions which initially led to the deployment—namely countering the rise of ISIS—have significantly changed.
According to the statement, Syrian authorities are now in a position to lead counterterrorism efforts internally, in cooperation with the international community.
The ministry also noted that the transfer process was conducted “with high professionalism and full coordination” between the Syrian and US governments, describing it as an indication of a developing working relationship between Damascus and Washington.
The statement concluded by expressing Syria’s intention to build on this path through diplomatic engagement, expanding economic partnerships, and enhancing cooperation in areas of mutual interest.