US forces initiated withdrawal from Qasrak base, their largest outpost in northeast Syria, with convoys relocating armored vehicles to Iraqi Kurdistan as Syrian government forces advance. Russia launched a major overnight barrage of missiles and drones targeting Ukrainian energy and rail infrastructure, killing 11 and injuring dozens, following a similar attack on the war's fourth anniversary eve. The US continues positioning warships like USS Gerald R. Ford and additional aircraft across the Middle East amid heightened tensions and nuclear talks with Iran.
📍 Qasrak, Hasakah Syria📍 Kyiv Ukraine📍 Souda Bay Greece📍 Persian Gulf
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US military personnel, numbering around 200 at the site, commenced evacuation from Qasrak base in Hasakah province, northeast Syria, on February 23, 2026, with footage showing convoys of armored vehicles departing for Iraqi Kurdistan. Syrian security forces were observed moving toward nearby Kurdish-controlled Qamishli in a US-backed arrangement, as Damascus consolidates control over the region.
Russia fired scores of missiles and drones overnight into February 23, striking energy facilities, railways, and residential areas across Ukraine, including Kyiv and Kramatorsk, resulting in 11 civilian deaths and 38 injuries. Ukrainian forces retaliated with drone strikes on Russian oil refineries in Tatarstan and Samara regions, a missile plant, and the Taman port on the Black Sea.
The US deployed the USS Gerald R. Ford carrier to Souda Bay, Crete, bolstering a regional buildup of over 120 aircraft and weaponry capable of striking Iranian nuclear and missile sites, as diplomatic talks falter.
These actions indicate US force posture shifts reducing Syria footprint while preparing for Iran contingencies; Russian strikes seek to cripple Ukrainian logistics, risking broader escalation via Ukrainian deep strikes. Regional spillover threats include SDF vulnerabilities in Syria, proxy activations against US assets, and potential multi-front Middle East war.
Next steps may involve complete US Syria exit within 30 days with retained air options; intelligence gaps persist on Russian ground maneuver intentions and Iranian red lines for proxy retaliation.
