ISTANBUL

The Syrian Arab Army has taken control of the Rumeilan Base in the countryside of Al-Hasakah in northeastern Syria following the withdrawal of international coalition forces, the country’s Defense Ministry said on Saturday.

According to the Syrian Arab News Agency, the ministry said the army took control of the base after coalition troops left the facility.

The base is considered strategically important due to its location in one of Syria’s main oil-producing regions. It is also located near the Rumeilan and al-Suwaydiyah Oil Field, which form a key part of the country’s oil production system, according to Syrian media reports.

In November last year, Syria joined the International Coalition against ISIS (Daesh). Formed in 2014, the coalition has carried out military operations against the terrorist group in Syria and Iraq, although Damascus was not previously a member.

*Writing By Khaled Badr​​​​​​​