US military activity in Erbil fuels speculation over early coalition drawdown

Unusual movements of U.S. troops and military equipment have been observed in Erbil, the capital of Iraq's Kurdistan Region, raising questions over whether the U.S.-led coalition against ISIS is beginning an early drawdown ahead of its planned departure from Iraq next month.

It remains unclear whether the activity signals the start of a full withdrawal. However, sources in Baghdad and Erbil said coalition personnel have spent the past week relocating air defence systems and logistical equipment from facilities at Erbil International Airport, The National reports.

According to the sources, the equipment being moved includes air defence components that have played a key role in intercepting drones and rockets targeting coalition bases from Iran and Iran-backed armed groups in Iraq.

The sources also said that British, French and German personnel serving as part of the anti-ISIS coalition have departed Erbil in recent days.

Two Kurdish officials—one working in the security sector and another within the Kurdistan Regional Government—said convoys transporting missile interceptors and logistical containers were seen leaving the Erbil air base during the final week of July. The base has served as a major hub for coalition operations supporting the Kurdish Peshmerga forces through training, advice and intelligence sharing.

"The movement is not routine," a regional government official said. "We are seeing defence systems that were fixed in place now being packed and moved."

"We don’t have confirmation if this is a relocation within Iraq, a return to the US, or part of the coalition closure," the official added.

The official also said the Kurdistan Regional Government had not received advance notification of the movements.

"There was no prior co-ordination with us," the official said.

In 2024, Iraq and the United States agreed to end the international coalition's military mission in Iraq by September 30, 2026. Under the agreement, coalition combat operations are scheduled to conclude, with any future U.S. military presence to be governed by bilateral arrangements focused on training, intelligence cooperation and arms sales.

The reported movements come after repeated attacks on U.S. military positions in Iraq by Iran-backed militias and groups operating from Iranian territory since the outbreak of the regional conflict. Several U.S. military personnel and civilians have been killed or injured in those attacks.

By Sabina Mammadli