In a landmark shift for national security, Iraq has declared the total withdrawal of United States forces from military bases within its federal territory.
While American troops continue to operate out of Harir Air Base in the autonomous Kurdistan Region, the Iraqi defense ministry confirmed that the final advisory teams have vacated Al-Asad Air Base in Anbar province.
This concludes over 20 years of US military presence at the strategic western hub and includes the transfer of the Joint Operations Command headquarters to local control.
The phased drawdown responds to Baghdad’s formal request to scale back foreign forces following years of fluctuating troop levels.
After reaching a peak of 170,000 personnel post-2003 and a brief exit in 2011, US forces returned in 2014 to combat ISIS, eventually pivoting to strictly advisory roles.
US Central Command has verified the facility transfers, which come during a period of intense regional friction between the US and Iran—tensions that frequently saw Al-Asad targeted by ballistic missiles and drone strikes.
Iraqi leadership maintains that their domestic forces are now fully capable of maintaining national security. While the coalition’s mission in federal Iraq is officially over, security cooperation will persist through training and equipment programs.
Additionally, the base in Erbil will continue to provide logistical support for ongoing anti-ISIS operations in Syria, and Baghdad remains open to joint missions if necessary.
This departure is also expected to influence domestic politics by removing a primary justification used by non-state militias for maintaining independent armaments.
