ISTANBUL ­— Turkish forces began withdrawing from Ankara’s largest base in Syria’s northeastern Idlib province shortly after midnight Tuesday, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

The group reported that convoys carrying military personnel and equipment were seen leaving the Morek base, one of 12 Turkish observation posts established in the region to monitor a fragile cease-fire in the nine-year-old conflict.

In 2019, the Morek base was encircled by Russian-backed forces loyal to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. According to Reuters, which reported the news Monday, Turkish forces are now consolidating their positions at remaining observation posts in the region, though analysts predict more bases may be abandoned in the near future.

Oytun Orhan, coordinator for Levant studies at the Center for Middle Eastern Studies in Ankara, said the Morek base along with several other Turkish observation posts established in 2018 were no longer serving their initial purpose of monitoring cease-fire infringements after territorial gains by the Assad forces last year left them isolated behind Syrian regime lines.