The Iraqi Ministry of Defense confirmed on Saturday that the nation’s armed forces have officially assumed full operational control of the Ain al-Asad Airbase, following the complete withdrawal of United States-led coalition personnel. This strategic transfer of authority marks a pivotal moment in the ongoing reconfiguration of Iraq’s sovereign defense capabilities and its military relationship with international partners.
The handover process stems from a bilateral understanding initially reached in 2024 between the governments in Washington and Baghdad. This agreement outlined a structured roadmap for the departure of all coalition forces operating under US command within Iraqi territory. Located in the western Anbar province, the Ain al-Asad Airbase has been a significant strategic asset, housing a substantial portion of the international coalition’s troops and equipment for years.
This development is widely interpreted as a concrete step toward fulfilling the long-term strategic objective of the Iraqi government: asserting complete sovereign control over its national security infrastructure. The smooth transition of this key military installation is being presented by Iraqi authorities as a testament to the growing operational readiness and self-sufficiency of the Iraqi military and security forces. The event signifies a new chapter in the US-Iraq security relationship, likely shifting toward a model based more on advisory roles and arms-length support rather than the permanent, large-scale presence of foreign combat troops.