US-led coalition withdraws from sixth military base, west of Baghdad

The US-led international coalition tasked with fighting Daesh yesterday withdrew from the Abu Ghraib base, west of the capital Baghdad, Anadolu reported.

The agency quoted an unnamed security source as saying that the coalition forces has handed control of the military camp back to Iraqi Security Forces.

A military source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said: “The Coalition forces on Tuesday morning withdrew from its military base in Abu Gharib area.” He added that the coalition forces handed over the base to the Iraqi army.

The Abu Ghraib military base is the sixth base to be handed back to the Iraqi army in just three weeks. The base was used by French troops to train and advise Iraqi security forces in the fight against Daesh.

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Over the past three weeks, the international coalition forces have withdrawn from the K-1 base in Kirkuk, Al-Qaim near the Syrian border, Qayyarah in western Iraq, Al-Sqoor base inside Nineveh operation command in Mosul, and Al-Taqaddum Air Base in Anbar province.

On 25 March, France decided to withdraw its troops from Iraq following the outbreak of the coronavirus.

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