On February 16, 2026, the Syrian Ministry of Defense announced that the Syrian Arab Army has taken control of the Al-Shaddadi military base in northeastern Syria from U.S. forces. This development follows the U.S. confirmation that it has also vacated the Al-Tanf base near the Jordan-Iraq border. The Al-Shaddadi base was previously utilized by U.S. troops as part of the international coalition against ISIS, and its control transfer indicates a significant shift in the power dynamics in the region. According to the Syrian Ministry, this transfer was conducted in coordination with U.S. officials. U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) reported that between February 3 and 12, over 30 ISIS targets were struck in Syria, focusing on their infrastructure and weapon storage sites. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressed satisfaction with the current direction of Syria's situation, stating, "Some days were concerning, but we like the current direction. We need to keep it on this path. We have good agreements in place." However, he cautioned that implementing agreements between the Syrian government and Kurdish minorities will not be straightforward, highlighting the need for broader political reconciliation with various ethnic groups in Syria, including Druze, Bedouins, and Alawites.