- Iraq's Joint Operations Command announced Wednesday.
- Coalition forces to fully withdraw from Ain al-Asad.
- Withdrawal from western Anbar province air base next week.
It is a step toward the US-led coalition's military withdrawal from the nation.
At a press briefing in Baghdad, Lt Gen. Qais al-Mohammadi, deputy commander of the Joint Operations Command, stated that the base will be fully turned over to Iraqi forces as part of the departure.
“Ain al-Asad will witness a full withdrawal next week and be transferred to our Iraqi units,”
Mohammadi said.
“There is a timetable to complete all these steps. This is an achievement related to Iraqi capabilities and to Iraqi sovereignty and also reflects understanding with the United States and coalition countries to shift the mission to bilateral memorandums.”
According to him, the future framework would concentrate on sharing knowledge, intelligence, training, and equipment in a way that guarantees Iraq's independence and sovereignty and fosters the growth of its security forces.
There are presently 2,500 US soldiers in Iraq. In order to combat ISIS, which had ruled over substantial portions of Syria and Iraq, a coalition comprising nations like France and Spain was established in 2014.
How will US bilateral agreements with Iraq change after withdrawal?
US- Iraq bilateral agreements will transition from coalition- led combat operations under Operation essential Resolve to a long- term strategic cooperation concentrated on premonitory support, training, intelligence sharing, and profitable tiespost-withdrawal.
The 2024 agreement outlines two phases: full coalition exit from bases like Ain al- Asad by September 2025, followed by a unilateral US presence through 2026 emphasizing capacity- structure for Iraqi forces against ISIS remnants, without combat places.
Security cooperation persists via the 2008 Strategic Framework Agreement, expanding into profitable diversification, energy independence, and banking reforms; hundreds of US colors may remain in premonitory capacities, potentially in Kurdistan, to cover Syria pitfalls and counter Iranian influence.