US troops at Al-Shaddadi base in Syria's northeastern Al-Hasakah province are preparing to withdraw completely in the coming hours.
“The US forces at the base are preparing for a complete withdrawal outside Syrian territories in the next 24 hours,” a source told Syria TV on Wednesday.
Earlier, the Hasaka Media Center reported that a truck convoy belonging to the international coalition entered from Iraq through the Yaarabiya crossing and headed to Al-Shaddadi base south of Al-Hasakah province.
Civilian sources in the area said the empty trucks were sent to load military equipment from the base.
Local eyewitnesses also reported that the international coalition is evacuating the Kharab al-Jir base, a key United States military installation located in northeastern Al-Hasakah.
Since Tuesday, the sources added, the sound of drones in Qamishli were heard. They said gunshots were also heard intermittently, signaling that international coalition forces were destroying some of their positions in the Kharab al-Jirb base.
Late last month, the Turkish Anadolu Agency said heightened military activity was seen at Al-Shaddadi air base, which is used by the US-led anti-ISIS coalition, according to local sources.
It said observers have reported the landing of a US cargo aircraft.
Syrian government forces entered the Kurdish-majority city of Qamishli on Tuesday as part of a deal agreed last week to gradually integrate the Kurds' forces and institutions into the state and began preparing to take over the airport.
Kurdish forces have ceded swathes of territory to advancing government troops in recent weeks following months of tension and sporadic clashes as Syria's new authorities have sought to impose their authority across the country.
“A convoy of internal security forces began entering the city of Qamishli,” the official SANA news agency said.
Sources explained that the Syrian security forces stopped at the entrance of the Qamishli airport in preparation to enter the facility, in addition to government buildings.
Few people were seen on the streets inside the city amid a curfew in place until Wednesday morning, with Kurdish security forces also lightly deployed.
