US withdrawal: First military convoy leaves Ain al-Assad base for Syria
US withdrawal: First military convoy leaves Ain al-Assad base for Syria
2025-08-18 03:40
Shafaq News – Anbar
An Iraqi security source reported on Monday that the first phase of the withdrawal of US forces from the country toward Syrian territory had begun.
The source told Shafaq News Agency that a US convoy, including trucks carrying military vehicles, had begun moving out of Ain al-Assad base.
He added that the move represents the first phase of the withdrawal, and he believes it will be directed towards Syrian territory.
Ain al-Asad Air Base is the second largest air base in Iraq after Balad Air Base. It is the headquarters of the US Army’s 7th Division and is located 10 kilometers from the Baghdadiyah district in Anbar Governorate.
Earlier today, a spokesperson for the US Embassy in Baghdad revealed the imminent signing of a “civilian” partnership between the international coalition and Iraq, coinciding with the planned “military” withdrawal by next September.
The spokesman said in a statement to the agency that the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS (Operation Inherent Resolve) will transition from its military mission in Iraq to a more traditional bilateral security partnership, stressing the continuation of the coalition’s civilian-led efforts at the global level.
He emphasized that this shift does not mean the end of the international coalition’s work to defeat ISIS, but rather comes as part of a transition plan to enhance stability in Iraq through security partnerships and ongoing civilian cooperation.
In this context, an Iraqi government source told Shafaq News Agency that the Iraqi government has agreed with the international coalition countries, led by the United States, to set a timetable for the start of withdrawing military forces and ending the coalition’s mission by September 2026.
The source explained that the first phase of the agreement stipulates the end of the coalition’s duties with the central government in September 2025. This includes the withdrawal of forces from Ain al-Asad base and the coalition mission headquarters in Baghdad, and the transfer of some forces and military equipment to Erbil and the rest to Kuwait.
He added that the second phase of the agreement includes a schedule for the full military withdrawal of the international coalition by September 2026. He noted that the number of international coalition forces, which previously numbered approximately 2,000 soldiers and advisors, will gradually decrease to less than 500 personnel, with their presence limited to Erbil, while the remaining forces will move to Kuwait.
The Iraqi Parliament’s Security and Defense Committee expressed concern about the imminent withdrawal of the international coalition from Iraq, believing it could pave the way for destabilizing the security situation both within the country and along the border with Syria.
shafaq.com
