MOSCOW, December 25. /TASS/. Members of several Syrian opposition armed units are ready to lay down their arms and surrender to the Syrian army once US troops and their allies leave the Al-Tanf base in southeastern Syria, the Surya Al-An news portal reporters on Tuesday. According to the news portal, a large number of militants stationed in a 55-wide area around Al-Tanf have expressed readiness to surrender and make reconciliation agreements with the Syrian authorities.
At the same time, field commanders from the Mahavir as-Saura brigade, trained by US and British instructors, have demanded a safe passage to take their forces to northern Syria. The brigade comprises about 6,000 militants.
The US-led coalition created the Al-Tanf base at the junction of the borders of Syria, Iraq and Jordan in order to fight against the Islamic State terror group (outlawed in Russia). Troops deployed to the base control a strategically important highway connecting Damascus and Baghdad. Besides, the United States claims to have used the facility to contain Iran’s influence in the region.
On December 19, US President Donald Trump ordered a full withdrawal of US troops from Syria. "After historic victories against ISIS, it’s time to bring our great young people home!" he said.
Washington launched a military operation against the Islamic State group in Iraq in June 2014 and in Syria in September 2014. More than 2,000 US troops are currently deployed to Syria. According to US officials, the troop pullout will take 60 to 100 days.
