US forces are withdrawing from al-Qaim, on the Syrian-Iraqi border, and two other key military bases in Iraq in the coming weeks. Therefore, the US military will leave 3 of its 8 official bases in the country.
The decision to do so was announced on March 16 under a pretext of the ‘success’ in the fight against ISIS. However, in fact, it followed a recent increase of rocket attacks on US facilities across Iraq.
Today, the @coalition transferred Al Qa'im base to #ISF
Because of ?? success in the fight against ISIS, in conjunction with partner forces and the Government of Iraq, CJTF-OIR will relocate and consolidate personnel and equipment from several Iraqi bases throughout 2020. pic.twitter.com/FO754mO5yx
— Inherent Resolve (@CJTFOIR) March 17, 2020
Al-Qaim is located on the highway between the Iraqi capital of Baghdad and the Syrian city of Deir Ezzor. The town of al-Bukamal, which Israeli and US media often label as a stronghold of Iranian-backed forces, is located on the Syrian side of the border. Therefore, the US military just officially abandoned its attempts to cut off the land link between Syria and Iraq thus preventing a free movement of troops, weapons and other suppleis from one country to another.
The US and the international coalition pull out of al Qaim base near the Iraq-Syria border. pic.twitter.com/MGvEv6Y1oX
— Mahyar (@Mahyar01674117) March 17, 2020
