Iraqi Army Assumes Full Control of Ain al-Asad After U.S. Withdrawal
Iraq's army assumed full control of Ain al-Asad airbase after U.S. forces and equipment withdrew under a 2024 Baghdad-Washington agreement to wind down coalition operations.
Overview
U.S. military personnel completed departure from Ain al-Asad airbase in western Iraq; Iraqi Army Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Abdul Amir Rashid Yarallah oversaw transfer and task assignments on Saturday.
The withdrawal follows a 2024 agreement for U.S.-led coalition forces to wind down in Iraq by September 2025, with earlier plans allowing small advisory units to remain pending regional developments.
An anonymous Iraqi defense ministry official confirmed all U.S. personnel and equipment were removed; there was no immediate public statement from U.S. military authorities regarding the withdrawal.
U.S. forces continue to operate in Iraq's Kurdish region and in neighboring Syria; U.S. officials say consolidation reflects progress against ISIS and shifting regional priorities.
Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani asserted the withdrawal could bolster state authority and support disarmament talks with non-state armed groups using U.S. presence as justification.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources report this neutrally: they use straightforward, descriptive language, rely on official statements and direct quotes (PM al-Sudani, army chief, anonymous MoD), and include contextual facts (agreement timeline, Syria developments, Kurdish presence) without evaluative adjectives or selective omission—editorial choices prioritize factual reporting; quoted views remain source content.
Sources (3)
FAQ
Ain al-Asad airbase is a strategic military facility in western Anbar province, Iraq, previously used by US-led coalition forces to combat ISIS since 2014.
The 2024 Baghdad-Washington agreement called for winding down US-led coalition operations in Iraq by September 2025, leading to US forces departing bases like Ain al-Asad.
Iraqi Army Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Abdul Amir Rashid Yarallah inspected the site and oversaw the distribution of duties to Iraqi units.
Yes, US forces continue to operate in Iraq's Kurdish region, such as Erbil, and in neighboring Syria, as part of regional consolidation against ISIS remnants.
History
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