The United States has finished pulling its forces out of Al-Asad Airbase in Iraq’s Anbar Governorate, formally transferring the sprawling installation to the Iraqi Armed Forces under the terms of the September 2024 withdrawal agreement, Al-Arabiya reported.
Al-Arabiya said the handover marks the most significant step yet in implementing the September 2024 accord that set a phased timetable for the drawdown of U.S.-led coalition troops and the transition to a strictly bilateral security partnership. The agreement called for Iraqi security forces to assume full responsibility for major bases in federal Iraq, including Al-Asad, while U.S. support shifts toward training, intelligence sharing, and limited advisory roles.
Iraqi defense officials have framed the transfer of Al-Asad as a milestone in restoring sovereignty, noting that Iraqi units are now solely in charge of securing the base and coordinating any future operations launched from its runways and command facilities.
Regional media also highlighted Al-Asad’s symbolic weight, recalling that it hosted U.S. and coalition troops for years of counter-ISIS operations and was targeted by Iranian missile strikes in January 2020, turning its final handover into a highly charged political moment in Baghdad and Tehran alike.
