International coalition forces will withdraw from the Ain al-Assad base next week.
According to Baghdad Al-Youm, Qais Al-Mohammadawy, the deputy commander of the Iraqi Joint Operations, said in a press conference today: “In 2025, we had high security successes and very few terrorist operations occurred.”
He emphasized that the international coalition forces will withdraw from the Ain Al-Assad base within a week.
Al-Mohammadawy added: “This year, 39 terrorists were killed in drone strikes, and the penetration of Iraq’s borders reached zero percent.”
The deputy commander of the joint operations noted: “The terrorist Abu Khadija, nicknamed the governor of ISIS, was killed along with another terrorist group in a unique operation. Extensive intelligence and field activity led to the death of prominent ISIS elements.”
He continued: “In 2026, the security file of other provinces will be handed over to the Ministry of Interior, and we will cooperate with the Peshmerga to control the security of the joint areas.”
Currently, about 2,500 US military forces are present in Iraq within the framework of the international coalition against terrorism, which was launched by Washington in September 2014. These forces are based at three main bases: Ain al-Assad Base in Anbar Province, Harir Base in Erbil, and Camp Victoria, which is located adjacent to Baghdad International Airport.
In addition to US military forces, forces from France, Australia, and the United Kingdom also operate as coalition forces, and another group is present in Iraq as part of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) mission.