World ( The cow news digital )
BAGHDAD: Preparations for the withdrawal of US military forces from the Kurdistan region of Iraq have been accelerated, with the formal handover of key bases belonging to the US-led international coalition to Iraqi security forces already underway.
According to the Iraqi government, the military withdrawal and transfer of bases in the Kurdistan region are scheduled to be fully completed by September 30, in accordance with an agreement reached between Washington and Baghdad in 2024.
Speaking at a press conference, government spokesperson Haider Al-Aboudi stated that communication with the international coalition remains active, and the documentation and transfer of various military sites to relevant Iraqi forces are progressing smoothly. “This process is moving forward in an organized manner, and by September 30, all these installations will be under the full control of Iraqi security institutions,” Al-Aboudi noted. He added that high-level military planning and regular liaison meetings between both sides are ensuring a seamless transition without any disruptions.
Local officials in Kurdistan recently pointed to an unusual surge in US military movements, noting that convoys and equipment transfers were spotted in Erbil at the beginning of the month, signaling an intensified withdrawal timeline. This marks the first official confirmation by the Iraqi government that the exit of the US-led coalition from the region is proceeding precisely toward the September 30 deadline. However, officials have not disclosed the exact number of military personnel departing Iraq or the total count of bases being handed over.
The US-led international coalition has been deployed in Iraq and the Kurdistan region since 2014 to support local forces in combating ISIS, while also utilizing these positions for operations in Syria. Following the territorial defeat of ISIS in 2017, Baghdad consistently pushed to transition the coalition’s mission from a combat role to one focused purely on advisory, intelligence, and security cooperation.
Emphasizing that diplomatic and military ties are evolving rather than ending, the Iraqi government assured that cooperation with the United States and other allied nations will persist in vital sectors, including air defense, intelligence sharing, and counter-terrorism initiatives.
