US to Withdraw All Air Defense Systems From Iraqi Kurdistan by September 2026
The US will withdraw all air defense systems from Erbil in Iraqi Kurdistan as part of its military exit by September 2026, according to Iraqi National Security Advisor Qasim al-Araji.
The United States will withdraw all of its air defense systems deployed in Erbil, Iraqi Kurdistan, Iraqi National Security Advisor Qasim al-Araji announced on Sunday. These defense systems have played a critical role in recent months in intercepting Iranian attacks launched via suicide drones and ballistic missiles targeting sites and headquarters in the region.
According to the Iraqi official, the removal of the air defense systems will take place as part of the scheduled US military withdrawal from the country, set to be completed by September 30, 2026, in accordance with the agreement reached between Baghdad and Washington. He stated that the US-led international coalition forces will withdraw completely from Iraq, a process that will be implemented gradually and will include the evacuation of all military personnel.
Despite ending the combat mission and reducing ground presence, the United States has clarified that it will continue to cooperate with Iraqi forces in training, intelligence sharing, and counter-terrorism efforts against ISIS. This cooperation will persist under bilateral agreements that do not require a large-scale military presence. To date, no official figures have been released regarding the number of troops who have already departed the country.
