Iraq has confirmed the complete withdrawal of United States forces from military facilities across its federal territory, marking a significant shift in the country’s security arrangements. The move does not affect the Kurdistan Region, where US troops continue to operate.
The Iraqi Defense Ministry announced that the last group of US military advisers had left Al-Asad Air Base in Anbar province, ending a presence that spanned more than two decades. Al-Asad had been one of the most strategic US military hubs in western Iraq.
The drawdown follows years of gradual reductions after Baghdad formally requested a decrease in US forces. In addition to leaving Al-Asad, the US-led coalition against ISIS also vacated the Joint Operations Command headquarters, handing full control of the facilities to Iraqi security forces.
US troops remain stationed at Harir Air Base in Erbil province within the Kurdistan Region. Iraq’s central government does not exercise full authority over this autonomous region, which has its own government, parliament, and security forces under the country’s constitution.
Since the 2003 invasion, the US military presence in Iraq has fluctuated. Troop levels peaked at around 170,000, with a full withdrawal in 2011, followed by a return in 2014 at Iraq’s request to assist in combating ISIS. Following the end of combat operations, the remaining US forces primarily served in advisory and support roles.
This historic withdrawal marks a new chapter in Iraq-US relations and reflects Baghdad’s ongoing efforts to assert full control over its federal territory.
