According to the Turkish outlet T24, U.S. forces have begun relocating from bases in Baghdad and Anbar to the Kurdistan Region, with Erbil International Airport designated as a logistics hub for coalition operations. The outlet and other regional sources report that elements from Ayn al-Asad Air Base have already shifted into northeastern Syria as part of a phased drawdown and repositioning.
The U.S.–Iraq understanding foresees coalition combat operations concluding by September 2025, with hundreds of American personnel departing by then and remaining units leaving by the end of 2026. A U.S. official has emphasized that the process is not a complete exit but a restructuring—reducing troop numbers and recasting missions toward advising and support. The Pentagon, reiterating Washington's commitment to wind down the coalition's combat role by September 2025, said it continues to review force posture and make necessary adjustments in line with the joint communiqué with Baghdad. U.S. forces are expected to retain access to Iraqi bases through September 2026 to support counter-ISIS operations in Syria, after which a bilateral security cooperation framework would guide ties.
Regional media have tracked the early movements. An Iraqi security source told Erbil-based Rudaw TV that drawdown preparations would begin at the end of September from Ayn al-Asad and Baghdad, with an emphasis on consolidating in Erbil rather than shifting into neighboring countries. Kurdistan24 reported that a convoy of U.S. soldiers departed Ayn al-Asad toward Rojava on August 26, adding that more staged departures will follow. While the agreement envisions the withdrawal of combat forces, analysts say the United States aims to retain a presence in advisory roles, with some of the force repositioned within the Kurdistan Region and to existing sites in Syria. Several sources estimate coalition troop levels around 2,500 during the transition. Erbil's Harir Air Base has been cited as a forward node, and Erbil International Airport's role as a logistics center is expanding.
The calculus is not solely military. Dr. Saman Shali, a regional analyst, argues that the Kurdistan Region offers a more secure environment for U.S. personnel and operations compared to Baghdad and southern Iraq, where instability and anti-U.S. sentiment remain stronger. He also points to the area's resource endowment—approximately 45 billion barrels of oil and roughly 200 trillion cubic feet of natural gas, or about 3% of global reserves—as a dual-interest driver for Washington: securing global energy security and enabling investment opportunities for U.S. energy firms already active in Kurdistan. Despite periodic disputes between Erbil and Baghdad over oil exports, Shali says U.S. economic interests are tangible and likely to endure.
Photo: Generated by Gemini AI.