Iraq Announces Control Over Ain al-Asad Base Following Withdrawal of U.S. Forces

SadaNews - The Iraqi Ministry of Defense announced on Saturday the withdrawal of U.S. forces from Ain al-Asad Airbase, which houses coalition forces led by the United States in western Iraq, after the Iraqi army took full control of the base.

Washington and Baghdad reached an understanding in 2024 regarding plans for the withdrawal of U.S.-led coalition forces from Iraq.

The Iraqi Ministry of Defense stated that "the Chief of Staff of the Army, Lieutenant General Abdul Amir Rashid Yarallah, supervised today the distribution of tasks and duties across various military forces and formations at Ain al-Asad, following the withdrawal of U.S. forces and the Iraqi army taking full management of the base."

The base has hosted U.S. and coalition forces for years and has repeatedly been targeted by attacks from armed groups allied with Iran during periods of tension in the region, including the time following the U.S. assassination of Iranian General Qassem Soleimani in 2020.

A colonel in the Iraqi army confirmed the withdrawal of U.S. forces from the base, noting that a small number of military personnel remain due to some logistical issues, but he did not provide further details for security reasons.

The exact date on which the United States began withdrawing its forces remains unclear; however, the initial plan called for hundreds of troops to depart by September 2025, with the remainder leaving by the end of 2026.