Full U.S. Withdrawal from Key Iraqi Base Raises Sovereignty and Security Questions

The recent departure of all U.S. forces from Iraq's Ain al-Asad air base in western Iraq might appear as a win for Iraqi sovereignty on the surface, but beneath this handover lies a complex web of security challenges that Washington cannot simply walk away from. Following an agreement between Baghdad and Washington to wind down the coalition fighting ISIS by September 2025, American troops have now fully exited the base, ending a long-standing military presence. Iraqi Army Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Abdul Amir Rashid Yarallah announced the complete transfer of control to Iraqi forces, with orders to maximize the...