U.S. Forces Withdraw from Iraq’s Ain al-Asad Airbase
U.S. troops have fully withdrawn from Ain al-Asad Airbase in western Iraq, and the Iraqi army has assumed complete control, Iraq’s Defense Ministry said Saturday.
The ministry released a video showing senior military commanders inspecting empty halls and corridors inside al-Asad Air Base.
The base has hosted U.S. and coalition forces for years and was repeatedly targeted by Iran-backed groups during periods of regional tension. The withdrawal follows a 2024 agreement between Washington and Baghdad to scale back U.S.-led coalition forces and transition to a bilateral security relationship.
The ministry said the U.S.-led coalition against ISIS also withdrew from the Joint Operations Command headquarters, leaving the facility entirely under the control of Iraqi security forces.
U.S. troops remain stationed at Harir Air Base in Erbil province, within the Kurdistan region. Iraq’s central government does not exercise full authority over the Kurdish region.
Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani said in September that the U.S.-led coalition forces are no longer needed in Iraq, as ISIS has lost its ability to plan, operate, control territory, or threaten security. The Iraqi government said the group carried out only four attacks in 2025, down from 42 in 2024, and all were deemed ineffective.
The U.S. military has not issued a statement regarding the withdrawal. An Iraqi army colonel cited by Reuters confirmed that U.S. forces have withdrawn from the base, but a few troops remain due to logistical issues.
