The US has reportedly begun to withdraw its forces from Qasrak base in Syria’s northeastern governorate of Al-Hasakah, the largest US base in the country on Monday, February 23.

According to international media outlets, US troops and equipment moved from Qasrak to Iraq’s semi-autonomous Kurdish region, while 200 soldiers remained as the dismantling of jamming systems, air defense systems, and the engineering section is still underway.

The move came a couple of weeks after the US military evacuated Al-Shaddadi base (also in Al-Hasakah), and Al-Tanf base in southern Syria.

Corporate media outlets have claimed that the US withdrew from its bases in Syria as part of Washington’s plan to reduce its military presence in the West Asian country, in order to give the Syrian interim government the lead to “counter terrorism” within Syria’s borders.

Read more: US launches large-scale strikes against ISIS in Syria

However, analysts argue that the military withdrawal is connected to Iran’s threats to target US bases in the region if it was attacked by the United States, and thus the possibility that the US is preparing for an attack against Iran. The US military had reportedly evacuated the Al-Udeid Air Base in Qatar, and Bahrain, where its Navy’s 5th Fleet is based, a few days earlier.

In addition, the US Department of State issued a travel advisory update on Monday, ordering the departure of non-emergency US government personnel and their family members from the US Embassy in Lebanon via Rafic Hariri International Airport “due to safety risks”.

Read more: Jordan will not be a launch pad for any military action against Iran, its foreign minister declares

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