US Troops Withdrawn from Iraq's Ain al-Asad Airbase

US troops have been withdrawn from Iraq's Ain al-Asad Airbase, which was home to US-led forces in western Iraq, with the Iraqi army taking full control, the Iraqi Ministry of Defense announced.

Ain al-Asad has hosted US and coalition forces for years and has been targeted multiple times by Iran-backed armed groups during periods of regional tension, including following the 2020 assassination of Iranian General Qasem Soleimani by the US.

An Iraqi army colonel confirmed the withdrawal of American forces from the base, stating that a few soldiers remained due to some logistical issues. He did not disclose further details for security reasons.

The timing of the withdrawal was initially unclear, but the original plan called for hundreds of troops to depart by September 2025, with the remainder to leave by the end of 2026.