Syria has assumed control of all military bases previously hosting U.S. forces, with the final American convoy departing Qasrak air base in the northeastern Hasakah governorate. The withdrawal marks a complete U.S. military exit from positions it had occupied in coordination with Syrian Democratic Forces during the campaign against the Islamic State. The handover of Qasrak, a strategically positioned installation in Syria's Kurdish-majority northeast, completes a broader transfer of U.S. military infrastructure to Syrian government authority. The departure closes a significant chapter in American military engagement in Syria, where forces had operated without formal Syrian government consent. The new Syrian administration now controls the full geography of former U.S. forward positions, altering the security architecture of the northeast, a region that borders both Iraq and Turkey and sits atop Syria's primary oil-producing areas. Analysts will watch whether Damascus can consolidate control over these bases and how Turkey, Kurdish groups, and regional actors respond to the changed on-the-ground reality.
Qatar's foreign ministry said mediators including Qatar, Pakistan, and Oman have reached "very progressive stages" in efforts to end the US-Iran war, pushing Brent crude down more than four percent.
Qatar confirmed it is mediating between the US and Iran but said no direct talks are currently planned. The clarification follows conflicting statements from President Trump, who claimed talks are under way, and Tehran, which denied any dialogue is happening.
Saudi Aramco reported sharply higher second-quarter 2026 profits as the Iran war restricts global oil supply and pushes crude prices up. Other oil supermajors also posted outsized earnings, raising concerns about sustained fuel cost pressure for importing economies.
President Trump called current Iran negotiations the "last chance" to end five months of conflict, pushing oil prices higher. Tehran denied formal talks are taking place, raising the risk of a diplomatic breakdown with direct consequences for global energy markets.
