Damascus, April 16, 2026 - The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates of the Syrian Arab Republic welcomes the completed handover of military sites where United States forces were previously present in Syria to the Syrian government.
The extension of Syrian state authority over areas that had previously been outside its control - including the northeast and border regions - is the result of the Syrian government’s sustained efforts to unify the country within the framework of a single state. The completion of the handover of these sites also reflects the successful integration of the Syrian Democratic Forces into national structures, and the Syrian state’s assumption of full responsibility for combating terrorism and addressing regional threats on its territory.
The Syrian government views the United States’ decision to complete its military mission in Syria as reflecting a shared assessment that the circumstances which originally necessitated the American military presence in Syria - namely, countering the regional rise of ISIS - have fundamentally changed. The Syrian state is today fully capable of leading counterterrorism efforts from within, in cooperation with the international community.
The handover of these sites was carried out with great professionalism and in full coordination between the Syrian and American governments, a process that underscores the constructive nature of the relationship that has developed between Damascus and Washington following the historic meeting between President al-Sharaa and President Trump at the White House in November 2025.
The Syrian Arab Republic remains committed to advancing this trajectory through strengthening diplomacy, developing economic partnerships, and expanding areas of cooperation in ways that serve the interests of both countries.
