US officials: Withdrawal from Ain al-Asad strengthens the position on disarming militias in Iraq
US officials: Withdrawal from Ain al-Asad strengthens the position on disarming militias in Iraq
2026-01-18 03:49
Shafaq News – Special Translation
American sources and media outlets said on Sunday that the withdrawal of US forces from Ain al-Asad air base reflects the continued repositioning and concentration of forces regionally and within the framework of progress in the battle against ISIS, but the withdrawal from the large military base would strengthen the position of the Iraqi government in the ongoing debate about disarming armed groups and extending state authority.
According to Fox News, the move to withdraw from Ain al-Assad comes at a time when the US Central Command (CENTCOM) has called for “collective action” with Syrian forces in the fight against ISIS.
Fox News quoted sources in CENTCOM command as saying that the withdrawal from the base, which comes as part of an ongoing effort to consolidate US forces in the region, was announced last fall, but was completed by last Friday.
According to a US official who spoke to Fox News, as translated by Shafaq News Agency, he said, “We are able to redeploy because of the significant progress that has been made there,” stressing that “ISIS in Iraq no longer poses a threat that exceeds Iraq’s ability to deal with it on its own.”
He went on to say that this reflects “our success in eliminating the ISIS threat in Iraq, and the readiness of Iraqi forces and the progress they have made in becoming self-reliant.”
The report quoted the official as saying that US forces are repositioning outside Iraqi territory under the control of the federal government, which means concentrating forces in other areas in order to focus on pursuing the remnants of ISIS in Syria.
The report stated that this repositioning comes at a time when CENTCOM leadership is calling for cooperation and collective action among Syrian partners and in coordination with US forces to fight ISIS.
In this context, the report recalled what CENTCOM Commander Admiral Brad Cooper announced on the X platform, saying, “We welcome the ongoing efforts by all parties in Syria to prevent escalation and seek a solution through dialogue, and we urge Syrian government forces to cease any offensive actions in the areas between Aleppo and Tabqa.”
He added that “pursuing ISIS forcefully and applying sustained military pressure requires collective action among Syrian partners and coordination with US and coalition forces.”
The report also quoted Cooper as saying, “A Syria that is reconciled with itself and with its neighbors is essential for achieving peace and stability throughout the region.”
According to the report, Admiral Brad Cooper’s statement appeared to be more of a call for enhanced coordination in the fight against ISIS than a warning to Damascus.
Meanwhile, ABC News reported on the complete evacuation of Ain al-Asad base of American troops and equipment, stating that American forces maintain a presence in the Kurdistan Region, as well as in neighboring Syria.
ABC considered that the withdrawal of US forces would strengthen the government’s position in the debate regarding the disarmament of non-state armed groups, as some of these groups have used the presence of US forces as a pretext for keeping their weapons.
The report cited what outgoing Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani said in a July interview: that after the withdrawal of coalition forces is complete, “there will be no need or justification for any group to bear arms outside the framework of the state.”
shafaq.com
