The US military completed its withdrawal from the al-Tanf base in Syria on Thursday. Control of the base was handed over to Syrian forces. This ends more than ten years of American military presence at the key location. Al-Tanf sits at the meeting point of Syria, Jordan, and Iraq. The base was set up in 2014 during Syria's civil war. It served as a hub for US-led operations against Islamic State militants, who controlled large areas in Iraq and Syria until their defeat in 2019. Over time, the base also became important in fighting Iranian influence because it lies along roads connecting Damascus and Tehran. The Trump administration changed its stance after Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad was overthrown in December 2024. Recently, Syria joined the coalition against Islamic State. In November, President Ahmed al-Sharaa, a former al-Qaeda commander, visited the White House and met with President Donald Trump. This shift has improved US-Syria relations and may lead to further US troop withdrawals.