18.01.2026 00:11
The Iraqi Ministry of Defense announced that the United States has completely withdrawn from the Ain al-Asad Airbase in Anbar province, one of the largest facilities of the coalition forces established under the leadership of the United States in the fight against the terrorist organization ISIS, and that the control of the base has been transferred to the Iraqi army.
The Iraqi Ministry of Defense reported that U.S. forces have completely withdrawn from the Ain al-Asad Air Base in Anbar province and that the management of the base has been transferred to the Iraqi army.
ORDER GIVEN TO REACH FULL COMBAT READINESS LEVELS
The statement indicated that the Chief of General Staff, General Abdulamir Rashid Yarallah, personally inspected the new task distribution by visiting the base with the deputy chiefs of staff responsible for operations and force commanders.
The statement noted that the Chief of General Staff inspected the base's infrastructure and logistics capabilities on-site and issued instructions for the units to reach full combat readiness levels, emphasizing Ain al-Asad's strategic importance. Yarallah stated that high coordination and teamwork among all military branches are necessary to ensure the complete security of the base.
The Ministry of Defense announced that the 65th Special Forces Brigade and its affiliated battalions have been assigned to the field for the security and management of the base, and that the headquarters of the Iraqi Air Force and Army Aviation Command have also taken their places within the base.
AIN AL-ASAD BASE
Captured by U.S. Marines during the Iraq invasion in 2003, Ain al-Asad Base became the main logistics center for the U.S. in western Iraq during the occupation period.
After the Iraqi army managed the base for a while, U.S.-led coalition forces returned to the base in 2014 following the terrorist organization ISIS's occupation of a large part of the country. The base played a critical role as the center for air operations in the fight against terrorism and as a training camp for local forces.