The US Army is nearly finished evacuating all its forces from the base in Erbil, Iraqi Kurdistan, according to a report from Al-Monitor. The evacuation began last week, and Patriot air defense batteries previously stationed there have already been folded and relocated.
The US military is nearing a complete withdrawal from its base in Erbil, the capital of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, according to a report from Al-Monitor cited by The Zioneer's sources. The report states that the evacuation of all forces began last week and is close to completion. Patriot air defense batteries that were stationed at the base have already been folded up and sent elsewhere.
Erbil has been a recurrent flashpoint in the direct military confrontation between the United States and Iran. As The Zioneer has previously reported, the base has been targeted by Iranian missile and drone strikes multiple times in recent months. On July 28, a fire was reported at the US base in Erbil following a drone attack. Earlier in July, Iran claimed responsibility for strikes on the US embassy and a military base in Erbil, and in June, US air defenses intercepted an Iranian ballistic missile and drones near the city.
The reported evacuation of all US forces from Erbil, if confirmed, would represent a major reduction in the American military footprint in northern Iraq. The removal of Patriot batteries, in particular, would reduce air defense coverage in a region that has served as a critical buffer against Iranian-backed forces. The Kurdish region has been a key partner for the US in the fight against ISIS and a strategic asset in containing Iranian influence.
3 developments
- StrongAmerica warns citizens to leave Iraq immediately as analysts predict multi-day campaign
- DevelopingUS Embassy in Iraq Urges American Citizens to Leave Immediately
- ConfirmedReported casualties among US forces in Erbil, northern Iraq
- DevelopingIRGC warns Jordan to expel US bases or face severe attack
Source and signal
A single-sourced dispatch is never rated Confirmed or Strong. Its Signal strengthens only when a second, independent source corroborates it.
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