Start of U.S. troop withdrawal from Ain al-Asad base

Some personnel and equipment were transferred by aircraft. This marks the first step of its kind at this base, which previously had only seen equipment transfers but no personnel movements.

According to Iraqi security sources, Ain al-Asad is expected to be completely vacated of U.S. presence by early September 2025, with the base ultimately shutting down on September 15.

The withdrawal is part of a previous agreement between Baghdad and Washington aimed at ending the international coalition’s military mission in Iraq and transforming the partnership into civilian security cooperation.

U.S. forces will gradually reduce their presence in Erbil to fewer than 500 personnel, while the remaining troops will be relocated to other bases in Iraq and Syria.

Since the beginning of the withdrawal, the base has witnessed intensive movements of U.S. forces, including convoys carrying vehicles and military equipment, as part of this process.

The Ain al-Asad air base, located in western Anbar, is one of the largest military installations in Iraq. U.S. forces have used it as one of their strategic hubs in the country since 2003. After their withdrawal in 2011, American forces returned in 2014 as part of the war against ISIS, turning the base into a major center for coalition operations.

According to Iraqi media reports, the base is expected to become a focal point for Iraqi forces in Anbar after the U.S. withdrawal.