Iraq takes full control of air base after US withdrawal, defence ministry says

BAGHDAD, Jan 17 (Reuters) – U.S. forces have withdrawn from Ain al-Assad Air Base, which hosts U.S.-led forces in western Iraq, and the Iraqi army has taken full control, the Iraqi defense ministry said on Saturday.

In 2024, Washington and Baghdad agreed on plans to withdraw US-led coalition forces from Iraq and move towards a bilateral security relationship.

Ain al-Assad has hosted US and coalition troops for years and has been repeatedly targeted by Iran-backed armed groups during periods of heightened regional tensions, including after the US killing of Iranian General Qasem Soleimani in ‌2020.

An Iraqi army colonel confirmed the withdrawal of US forces from the base, saying that a few soldiers remained behind due to some logistical problems. He did not provide further details for security reasons.

Although it was not immediately clear when the withdrawal began, the initial plan called for hundreds of troops to leave by September 2025, with the remainder leaving by the end of 2026.

(Reporting by Muayad Kenany and ‌Ahmed Rasheed. Writing by: Jaidaa Taha. ‌Editing by: Mark Potter)