The Syrian government forces Thursday assumed control of a base formerly run for years by U.S. troops as part of the war against the Daesh terrorist group, the Defense Ministry said Thursday.
The al-Tanf base in eastern Syria is strategically located, close to the borders with Jordan and Iraq. In a terse statement, the Syrian Defense Ministry said the handover of the base took place in coordination with the U.S. military and Syrian forces are now "securing the base and its perimeters."
The U.S. military did not immediately respond to an email from The Associated Press regarding the Syrian statement.
The Syrian Defense Ministry also said that Syrian troops are now in place in the desert area around the al-Tanf garrison, with border guards to deploy in the coming days.
The deployment of Syrian troops at al-Tanf and in the surrounding areas comes after last month's deal between the government and the U.S.-backed terrorist group PKK/YPG to merge into the military.
