Iraqi army fully takes over key base following US withdrawal
ABC News • • nation
Key Points:
- U.S. forces have fully withdrawn from Ain al-Asad air base in western Iraq, completing the transfer of control to the Iraqi Army as part of the 2024 agreement between Washington and Baghdad to wind down the coalition fighting ISIS by September 2025.
- Initially, a small contingent of 250-350 U.S. military advisers remained at the base due to developments in Syria, but all personnel and equipment have now departed.
- Iraqi Army Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Abdul Amir Rashid Yarallah has taken over command of the base and emphasized enhancing coordination and utilizing the base's strategic capabilities.
- The U.S. military has not issued a statement on the withdrawal, but U.S. forces continue to maintain a
