On Sunday, United States (US)-led international coalition troops reported that they have withdrawn from Iraq’s Taji military base located 20 km (12 miles) north of Baghdad.
In recent months, the Taji military base had constantly been hit by Iran-backed militia rockets which targeted US-led troops.
Days after US President Donald Trump restated his promise of withdrawing US troops still stationed in Iraq, the US-led international coalition troops transferred the military base to Iraqi security forces.
The coalition confirmed that this move marked the eighth time a coalition portion handed over an Iraqi base back to Iraqi forces.
In a statement, the coalition said, “The movement of coalition military personnel is part of a long-range plan coordinated with the government of Iraq.”
The coalition said that the military base was home to 2,000 US coalition members, majority of who had left this summer and that the remaining troops planned to leave in the coming days after equipment is handed over to Iraqi security forces.
After the US airstrike, led by the Trump administration, killed Iranian general Qassem Soleimani and Iraqi militia leader Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis in 2019, Iraq’s parliament, this year, voted for the removal of foreign troops from the country which subsequently resulted in the withdrawal of the US and coalition troops.
Over the years, there were around 5,000 US troops in Iraq and its coalition had a further 2,500 troops.