Coalition Forces Hand Over Bases Ahead of Iraq Deadline
At a Glance
- Coalition forces have started evacuating bases in Erbil and Baghdad.
- Withdrawal from the Kurdistan Region has officially commenced.
- Officials affirm no foreign troops will remain past September 30.
With under two days remaining until the official September 30 deadline, the final phase of the International Coalition's withdrawal from Erbil and Baghdad has begun as military headquarters are handed back to Iraqi forces.
Key Statements and Focus Area
- Sabah al-Numan, spokesperson for the Commander-in-Chief of the Iraqi Armed Forces, confirmed to Channel8 that the withdrawal process of the International Coalition from the Kurdistan Region has commenced.
- Saad Maan, Head of the Security Media Cell, emphasized that Iraq possesses the full capacity to maintain ongoing stability based on national sovereignty.
Speaking to Channel8 regarding the impending International Coalition withdrawal, the Iraqi military spokesperson al-Numan affirmed that no foreign troops will remain in Iraq past the designated September 30 deadline.
Meanwhile, the Security Media Cell head told Channel8 that an agreement has been reached with Turkey to reclaim the Zilkan camps in Nineveh’s Bashiqa, which Channel8 had earlier reported.
Later, following talks between Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Faleh al-Zaidi and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in New York on September 23, both countries agreed to the gradual handover of the military base.
This planned drawdown aligns with Baghdad's broader initiative to conclude the presence of all foreign troops in the country.
An Iraqi government official told the German Press Agency (dpa) that all U.S. forces and logistics teams have fully withdrawn.
Concurrently, Shihab Jahid Ali (Khaled al-Tamimi), Commander of the Iraqi Air Force, stated in an interview that the Iraqi Air Force has moved past its reliance on the International Coalition and now conducts all flights and aerial surveillance using domestic capabilities, while efforts have begun to establish a dedicated drone command and purchase advanced French aircraft.
FYI
Supported by a bilateral agreement signed between Baghdad and Washington in 2024, the military drawdown follows a prior deployment of approximately 2,500 US troops across Iraq.
The final phase of the operation focused on withdrawing the remaining forces from the Erbil Airport military base, the Baghdad Diplomatic Support Center (BDSC), and the Green Zone.
Kurdistan Region’s Ministry of Peshmerga Affairs has raised concerns over the withdrawal, stressing that, “Leaving the Kurdistan Region by the United States in such a complicated regional situation, without providing any air-defense system, is a matter of concern.”
Concurrently, the Iraqi government has declared a four-day official holiday nationwide to commemorate Sovereignty Day on September 30, marking the formal conclusion of the International Coalition's military mission and facilitating transition ceremonies at the reclaimed military facilities.
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