Overview
- Iraqi officials said all U.S. forces have left Ain al-Asad and Army Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Abdul Amir Rashid Yarallah assigned duties to units now running the base.
- A Defense Ministry official confirmed the departure of all personnel and removal of American equipment, and there was no public statement from the U.S. military.
- U.S. officials told Fox News the move was completed by Friday as part of a consolidation plan announced last fall.
- U.S. troops remain in northern Iraq’s Kurdish region and in Syria, and CENTCOM has called for coordinated efforts with Syrian partners against ISIS.
- Iraqi leaders and analysts say the withdrawal could strengthen the government’s hand in negotiations to disarm non-state armed groups that cited the U.S. presence to keep weapons.