Iraq says US-led coalition to withdraw from Ain al-Asad base next week

ISTANBUL

Iraq’s Joint Operations Command said Wednesday that forces of the international coalition against ISIS (Daesh) will fully withdraw from Ain al-Asad Air Base in the western Anbar province next week, a step toward ending the military presence of the US-led coalition in the country.

Lt Gen. Qais al-Mohammadi, deputy commander of the Joint Operations Command, told a news conference in Baghdad that the withdrawal will include the complete handover of the base to Iraqi forces.

“Ain al-Asad will witness a full withdrawal next week and be transferred to our Iraqi units,” Mohammadi said.

“There is a timetable to complete all these steps. This is an achievement related to Iraqi capabilities and to Iraqi sovereignty and also reflects understanding with the United States and coalition countries to shift the mission to bilateral memorandums.”

The future framework will focus on exchanging expertise, intelligence information, training and equipment in a way that ensures Iraq’s sovereignty and independence and supports the development of its security forces, he added.

The US currently has about 2,500 troops in Iraq. The coalition, which includes countries such as France and Spain, was formed in 2014 to fight ISIS, which once controlled large areas of Iraq and Syria.