US Forces Complete Withdrawal from Ain al-Asad Airbase in Iraq

U.S. troops have completed their withdrawal from Iraq’s Ain al-Asad Airbase, marking a significant milestone in the ongoing consolidation of American military presence in the region. The pullout, finalized by Friday, is part of a broader strategy announced last fall to reorganize U.S. forces in the Middle East.

“We’re able to consolidate because of the significant progress made there — ISIS in Iraq doesn’t pose a threat beyond Iraq’s capacity to handle on their own,” a U.S. official told Fox News. The official emphasized that the withdrawal reflects “our success in rooting out the ISIS threat in Iraq and Iraqi forces’ willingness and progress in standing on their own.”

The consolidation will see U.S. forces repositioned outside of federal Iraqi territory, allowing them to concentrate efforts on combating remnant ISIS elements in neighboring Syria. This strategic shift comes at a time when the Pentagon is reassessing its counter-terrorism priorities in the region.

The move coincides with U.S. Central Command’s (CENTCOM) call for increased cooperation among Syrian partners in the ongoing fight against ISIS. Admiral Brad Cooper, CENTCOM commander, recently issued a statement urging collaboration: “We welcome ongoing efforts by all parties in Syria to prevent escalation and pursue resolution through dialogue.”

Cooper also called on Syrian government forces to cease offensive actions in areas between Aleppo and al-Tabqa. “Aggressively pursuing ISIS and relentlessly applying military pressure requires teamwork among Syrian partners and coordination with U.S. and coalition forces,” he stated, underscoring the importance of regional stability in counter-terrorism operations.

The withdrawal from Ain al-Asad comes amid heightened U.S. military activity against ISIS in Syria. On January 10, CENTCOM announced large-scale strikes against ISIS targets in Syria as part of Operation Hawkeye Strike, which was launched on December 19, 2025, at President Donald Trump’s direction.

Operation Hawkeye Strike was initiated in direct response to a deadly ISIS attack on U.S. and Syrian forces in Palmyra, Syria, which claimed the lives of two American soldiers—Sgt. Edgar Brian Torres-Tovar, 25, of Des Moines, Iowa, and Sgt. William Nathaniel Howard, 29, of Marshalltown, Iowa—along with interpreter Ayad Mansoor Sakat of Michigan.

War Secretary Pete Hegseth characterized the operation not as “the beginning of a war” but as a “declaration of vengeance.” On December 19, American forces employed more than 100 precision munitions to strike over 70 suspected ISIS sites around Palmyra.

Concurrent with military operations, diplomatic efforts are underway. U.S. Special Envoy for Syria Tom Barrack recently met with Syria’s new leadership in Damascus, including President Ahmed al-Sharaa and Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani. Barrack indicated that discussions focused on “recent developments in Aleppo and the broader path forward for Syria’s historic transition.”

The United States has expressed support for Syria’s new government under President al-Sharaa, signaling a potential shift in diplomatic relations amid ongoing counter-terrorism cooperation.

President Trump, who previously vowed revenge for the American casualties, announced the retaliatory strikes on his Truth Social platform in December, stating that “the United States is inflicting very serious retaliation, just as I promised, on the murderous terrorists responsible.”

As U.S. forces complete their withdrawal from Ain al-Asad, the move represents both a strategic repositioning of American military assets and a vote of confidence in Iraq’s ability to maintain security against ISIS threats within its borders.