Iraq announced on Sunday that United States forces have fully withdrawn from military installations within the country’s federal territory, excluding the semi-autonomous Kurdistan Region, where American troops continue to be stationed.
The Iraqi defense ministry confirmed that the last group of US advisers departed from Al-Asad Air Base in Anbar province, in western Iraq, which has hosted US troops for more than 20 years.
The US military has been gradually reducing its presence following the Iraqi government’s request for withdrawal in 2023.
“The final contingent of US advisers had departed from Al-Asad Air Base in Anbar province in western Iraq, which hosted US troops for more than two decades,” the ministry said.
Additionally, the US-led coalition fighting the Islamic State group also vacated the Joint Operations Command headquarters, leaving the facilities fully under Iraqi control.
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 the Kurdish region in the north, which operates as an autonomous federal entity with its own parliament, government, and security forces, all recognized under the Iraqi constitution.
The US military presence in Iraq has fluctuated considerably since the 2003 invasion. At its peak, 170,000 US troops were deployed in the country. Former President Barack Obama withdrew US forces in 2011, but roughly 5,000 were redeployed in 2014 at Iraq’s request to help fight ISIS.
Since December 2021, after the US declared the end of its combat role in Iraq, approximately 2,500 US troops remained in an advisory and assistance capacity.
To mark the handover, the Iraqi ministry released a video on Saturday showing senior military commanders walking through empty corridors and halls inside Al-Asad Air Base.
The US Department of Defense’s Central Command confirmed to CNN on Sunday that the Iraqi Ministry of Defense’s statement “were factual,” but offered no further details.
The withdrawal occurs amid growing US-Iran tensions, as President Donald Trump weighs potential strikes on Iran following deadly street protests against the country’s regime.
Al-Asad base has faced repeated attacks over the years by Iran and Iran-backed groups.
“In January 2020, Iran launched a ballistic missile attack on US forces at Al-Asad in retaliation for a drone strike at a Baghdad airport that killed Iran’s most powerful military commander, Qasem Soleimani.
The heavy bombardment lasted for around two hours, targeting only the US areas of the shared base,” the report notes.
After the October 7, 2023, terror attacks in Israel, Iran-aligned militias targeted Al-Asad with a series of missile strikes. In August 2024, five US service members and two contractors were injured in another attack.
Iraqi officials stressed on Sunday that the country’s armed forces across all branches now have the capacity to maintain security independently, adding that future US cooperation would focus on “training, equipment acquisition, joint exercises, and operational coordination under bilateral agreements.”
While Iraq considers the coalition mission within its territory concluded, Baghdad emphasized that operations against ISIS and other terror groups continue in Syria.
It expects logistical support to transit through the coalition’s Erbil base and did not rule out joint US-Iraqi counter-ISIS operations from Al-Asad if necessary.
The withdrawal could strengthen Baghdad’s position in negotiating the disarmament of non-state armed groups. Some Iran-backed militias have cited the US presence to justify retaining weapons.
“Militias like Kataib Hezbollah and Harakat al-Nujaba, among Iraq’s most powerful armed groups and designated by the US as ‘terrorist entities,’ rejected disarmament. They said they would surrender their weapons only once Iraq achieves full sovereignty, including the withdrawal of foreign forces from Iraq,” officials said.
No immediate response was reported from these militias. While many have formally joined the Popular Mobilization Forces, they continue to wield significant influence over Iraq’s security, political, and economic affairs.
