"Iraq’s Army Chief of Staff, Abdel Amir Rashid Yarallah, inspected Ain al-Asad airbase in Al Anbar on Saturday, following the withdrawal of US forces and the Iraqi army’s assumption of full control over the facility. Footage shows Yarallah overseeing the deployment of military personnel, receiving briefings from commanders and touring the base to assess facilities and operational readiness. In a statement published on its website, the Iraqi Ministry of Defence said the army chief of staff “oversaw the assignment of tasks and duties to various military units at the base on Saturday following the withdrawal of US forces and the Iraqi Army’s full assumption of control over the base.” The ministry added that Yarallah “instructed relevant authorities to intensify efforts, enhance joint work, and coordinate between all units stationed at the base, while making full use of its capabilities and strategic location.” The statement did not specify the exact date of the US forces’ departure from the base. The withdrawal was carried out in accordance with a 2024 security agreement between Baghdad and Washington, which sets out a phased exit of American forces and the conclusion of the international coalition fighting Islamic State (IS) forces in Iraq. The second phase of the withdrawal is expected to be completed by the end of 2026, covering remaining bases in the Kurdistan Region and establishing an enduring bilateral security relationship between the two countries. Ain al-Asad is one of Iraq’s largest airbases and previously served as the headquarters for US forces and the international coalition operating in western Iraq."