The supposed location of Heemo base, Via Google Earth
U.S. forces withdrew from a key base located west of the city of Qamishli in northeastern Syria over the last few days, the Lebanese al-Manar TV reported on February 15 citing local sources.
The US-led coalition and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which control northeastern Syria, have not commented on these claims so far.
In December 2018, President Donald Trump announced that all U.S. troops will be withdrawn from Syria. The surprise decision led to a backlash from the mainstream media, prominent politicians and even senior officials in Trumps’ own administration.
Few days before Trump’s announcement, Syrian activists reported that the US-led coalition was expanding its base west of Qamishli, which is known as Heemo base. The activists claimed that the coalition installed a radar station and other heavy military equipment in the base.
The expansion of the base is an example of how the U.S. military command was working to strengthen U.S. presence in Syria without consent from the White House. This contradiction in strategies was likely among the resonse behind the resignation of Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis.
