In Support of Israel Deal: Washington Prepares to Establish American Air Base in Damascus
Sources told Reuters that the United States is preparing to establish an American air base in Damascus, in a move aimed at supporting a security agreement currently under negotiation between Syria and Israel, mediated by the U.S. administration.
According to sources, the base is located at a strategic point serving as an entry to southern Syria, expected to become part of a demilitarized zone under a pending non-aggression agreement. This development comes ahead of a planned meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Syrian President Ahmad Al-Sharʿ at the White House next week, marking the first visit of a Syrian president to Washington.
The Base: Preparations and Operations
Sources familiar with the matter, including two Western officials and one from the Syrian Ministry of Defense, said Washington plans to use the base to monitor the implementation of the potential agreement within a technical and logistical framework.
An official in the U.S. administration stated that the country “continues to assess its positioning in Syria to ensure effective efforts against ISIS,” noting that U.S. authorities do not publicly comment on military locations for operational security reasons. A Western military official added that the Department of Defense accelerated field preparations over the past two months and conducted reconnaissance missions confirming that the runway is ready for immediate use.
Two Syrian military sources confirmed that technical discussions are focused on logistics, monitoring, and refueling, in addition to humanitarian operations, while Syria retains full sovereignty over the facility.
Test Operations and U.S. Deployment Indicators
A Syrian Ministry of Defense official said U.S. C-130 military transport planes landed at the base to test runway functionality, while a security guard at the base entrance stated that the flights were for “technical tests.” No dates have been set for the deployment of U.S. personnel to the base.
Observers note that these preparations mirror other instances of U.S. military presence in the region, such as monitoring the ceasefire agreement between Hezbollah and Israel from Lebanon, and the truce between Hamas and Tel Aviv from within Israel, established during the Trump administration.
Diplomatic Moves and Technical Talks
The United States currently maintains forces in northeastern Syria to support Kurdish troops in the fight against ISIS, a mission ongoing for nearly a decade.
The Pentagon announced in April plans to reduce these forces to around 1,000 troops. Syrian President Ahmad Al-Sharʿ emphasized that any U.S. presence must be based on a formal agreement with the new Syrian state. Sources indicated that Damascus is preparing to join the U.S.-led international coalition against ISIS.
According to a source involved in negotiations, the air base issue was among topics discussed during a visit by Admiral Brad Cooper, commander of U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), to Damascus on September 12.
U.S. Pressure to Expedite Security Deal with Israel
A statement by U.S. Central Command at the time noted that Cooper and U.S. envoy Tom Barrack met with President Al-Sharʿ and thanked him for “his contribution to efforts against ISIS,” emphasizing support for “President Trump’s vision of a stable and prosperous Middle East.”
According to Syrian sources, the United States is exerting increasing pressure on Damascus to finalize the security agreement with Israel before the end of the year, potentially ahead of President Al-Sharʿ’s upcoming visit to Washington. Washington had hoped to announce the agreement during the U.N. General Assembly meetings in September, but negotiations stalled at the final stages.
Related Topics:
U.S. Move at UN Security Council to Lift Sanctions Ahead of Al-Sharʿ Visit
