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Iraq Confirms Full US Military Withdrawal From Federal Territory
Iraq’s government has announced the completion of a full withdrawal of United States forces from military facilities within the country’s federal territory, marking a major milestone in the winding down of the US military presence after more than two decades.
In a statement on Sunday, Iraq’s defence ministry confirmed that the final group of US advisers had departed Al-Asad Air Base in Anbar province, western Iraq. The base had hosted American troops since the early years following the 2003 US-led invasion. The ministry also said the US-led coalition fighting the Islamic State (IS) group had vacated the Joint Operations Command headquarters, leaving both sites under the full control of Iraqi security forces.
The drawdown follows years of gradual reductions after the Iraqi government formally requested a US withdrawal in 2023. However, American troops remain stationed at Harir Air Base in Erbil province, within the semi-autonomous Kurdistan Region. Under Iraq’s constitution, the Kurdistan Region operates its own government, parliament and security forces, limiting Baghdad’s direct authority there.
US military involvement in Iraq has fluctuated significantly over the years. At its peak, around 170,000 US troops were deployed during the height of the conflict. Former President Barack Obama ordered a full withdrawal in 2011, but approximately 5,000 troops returned in 2014 at Baghdad’s request to help combat the rise of IS. Since December 2021, when the US ended its formal combat mission, about 2,500 troops have remained in an advisory and support role.
Iraq’s defence ministry released video footage showing senior military commanders walking through empty corridors at Al-Asad Air Base, underscoring the symbolic end of the US presence at the facility. US Central Command later confirmed that the Iraqi ministry’s statement on the handover was accurate, without providing additional details.
The withdrawal comes amid heightened regional tensions involving the United States and Iran, as US President Donald Trump weighs potential military action against Tehran amid deadly protests challenging Iran’s leadership. US forces at Al-Asad have been targeted repeatedly over the years by Iran and Iranian-backed groups. In January 2020, Iran launched a ballistic missile attack on the base in retaliation for the US killing of senior Iranian commander Qasem Soleimani in Baghdad. More recently, Iran-aligned militias intensified attacks following the October 7, 2023, assault on Israel, with an August 2024 strike injuring several US personnel.
Iraqi officials said the country’s armed forces now have sufficient capacity to secure national territory, adding that future cooperation with Washington would focus on training, equipment procurement, joint exercises and operational coordination under bilateral agreements. While Baghdad considers the coalition’s mission concluded inside Iraq, it acknowledged that operations against IS continue in neighbouring Syria.
Officials also noted that logistical support for coalition activities in Syria may still transit through the Erbil air base and did not rule out joint US-Iraqi counter-IS operations launched from Al-Asad if required.
The US withdrawal could strengthen Baghdad’s position in negotiations over the disarmament of non-state armed groups. Several Iran-backed militias have long cited the US military presence as justification for retaining their weapons. Groups such as Kataib Hezbollah and Harakat al-Nujaba, designated as terrorist organisations by Washington, have previously said they would only disarm once Iraq achieved full sovereignty, including the departure of foreign forces.
While there was no immediate reaction from the militias to Sunday’s announcement, many remain influential despite formal integration into the Popular Mobilization Forces, continuing to shape Iraq’s security, political and economic landscape.
