The Iraqi military announced on Saturday, 17 January 2026, that it has assumed full control of the strategically important Ain al-Asad air base in western Iraq, following the complete withdrawal of all United States forces and equipment from the facility.
Final Stage of Bilateral Agreement
This final pullout marks the implementation of a key bilateral agreement struck between Washington and Baghdad in 2024. That pact outlined the winding down of the US-led coalition mission against the Islamic State group in Iraq by September 2025, which included the departure of American troops from bases where they were stationed.
However, a small contingent of between 250 and 350 US military advisers and support personnel remained at Ain al-Asad beyond that initial deadline. Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani explained in October that "developments in Syria" had necessitated keeping this unit in place temporarily, despite the original stipulation for a full withdrawal by September.
Iraqi Army Assumes Command
The handover was formalised on Saturday, with Iraqi Army Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Abdul Amir Rashid Yarallah overseeing proceedings. A military statement confirmed he assigned tasks and duties to various Iraqi units now stationed at the base.
The statement further noted that Yarallah "instructed relevant authorities to intensify efforts, enhance joint work, and coordinate between all units stationed at the base, while making full use of its capabilities and strategic location."
A senior official from Iraq's Ministry of Defence, speaking anonymously as they were not authorised to comment publicly, verified that all American personnel had departed and that all US-owned equipment had been removed from the site.
Strategic Implications and Next Steps
The departure from Ain al-Asad is a significant milestone, though US forces retain a presence elsewhere in the region, including in the semi-autonomous Kurdish region of northern Iraq and in neighbouring Syria. There was no immediate public statement from the US military regarding this specific withdrawal.
Analysts suggest that the complete US exit from this major base could strengthen the hand of the Iraqi government in delicate ongoing discussions concerning the disarmament of powerful non-state armed factions within the country. Some of these groups have historically cited the presence of US troops as a justification for maintaining their own arsenals.
Prime Minister al-Sudani foreshadowed this dynamic in a July interview with The Associated Press, stating that once the coalition withdrawal was finalised, "there will be no need or no justification for any group to carry weapons outside the scope of the state." The full Iraqi control of Ain al-Asad now puts this principle to the test.
