An Israeli newspaper confirms the withdrawal of US forces and Patriot missile systems from Iraqi Kurdistan.
An Israeli newspaper confirms the withdrawal of US forces and Patriot missile systems from Iraqi Kurdistan.
8-2-2026
The Jerusalem Post reported on Sunday that the United States’ withdrawal of Patriot missile systems from Iraqi Kurdistan raises concerns about further attacks on US bases in the region.
The report, translated by Al-Maalomah News Agency, stated that “the autonomous Kurdistan Region in northern Iraq has been subjected to approximately 1,000 missile and drone attacks since February, when the US-Israeli war on Iran began. The region now faces a potential new challenge as US forces may reduce their presence.”
The report added that “the United States is nearing a complete withdrawal from Iraq, and US bases in the Kurdistan Region are facing missile attacks. Worrying reports indicate that the mobile Patriot air-to-ground air defense systems, which detect and intercept incoming missiles, drones, and other enemy airborne equipment, have already been removed from the military complex, according to sources, who did not provide further details.”
The reports explained that “the withdrawal began last week and is still ongoing, with the bulk of US forces and their heavy equipment leaving.” They added that “all” Patriot anti-missile batteries were redeployed to an undisclosed location, while other defensive weapons systems remained in place until the time of deployment.
Reports in March suggesting that the Kurds might be pressured by Israel or the US to launch a major uprising in Iran led to a harsh Iranian response, placing the Kurds in northern Iraq in a difficult position. “They want to work closely with the US, but they don’t want to find themselves exposed in this war,” the reports noted.
They added that “reports that the US might redeploy its forces are fueling fears of abandoning the Kurds once again. The Kurds generally say they have no friends but the mountains they live in, and the long history of US support followed by abandonment has left them feeling uneasy.”
almaalomah.me
