US and Iraq Sign Agreement to Transfer Diplomatic Hub at Baghdad Airport Ahead of Troop Withdrawal

Iraq and the US have signed an agreement to transfer a diplomatic and logistics hub located at Baghdad airport, Iraq's Foreign Ministry announced early on Friday, marking a key step in preparations for the full withdrawal of American forces.

US charge d’affaires Steven Fagin and Iraqi Deputy Foreign Minister Mohammed Hussein Bahr Al Uloom announced the deal to hand over the Diplomatic Support Centre, which is affiliated with the US embassy at Baghdad International Airport, to the Iraqi government. The formal signing ceremony took place at Baghdad's Foreign Ministry.

The announcement arrives just days before the remaining US-led coalition troops are scheduled to withdraw by September 30, effectively ending the coalition's military presence in Iraq. Currently, coalition forces are stationed only at Erbil airport after having previously withdrawn from all other bases.

Mr Bahr Al Uloom noted that the handover marks a vital role in transitioning toward a new phase of cooperation and partnership across multiple areas of mutual interest. Meanwhile, Mr Fagin stated that Washington's support for the Iraqi government is built upon efforts to further develop bilateral relations, grounded in previous agreements that respect national sovereignty and open new avenues for joint cooperation.

A formal agreement was previously reached between Iraq and the US in 2024 to conclude the coalition's mission against ISIS. Throughout this year, the airport facility faced repeated drone and rocket attacks following the eruption of the US-Iran war in February, which saw Iran respond by targeting regional US military assets. For years, Iran-backed armed groups advocating for the departure of foreign troops have targeted US facilities and coalition forces throughout Iraq.

The US-led coalition originally arrived in Iraq in 2014 at the invitation of the Iraqi government to combat ISIS, which was advancing rapidly across Iraq and neighboring Syria at the time. The Diplomatic Support Centre functioned as a diplomatic and logistics facility situated on the west side of the airport, having previously served as part of the US Victory Base military installation before its repurposing during the 2011 US troop withdrawal.

Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Al Zaidi reaffirmed that September 30 serves as the firm deadline for concluding the military mission and completing the troop withdrawal. He has also committed to reinforcing the state’s monopoly on arms and ensuring that armed factions surrender their weapons to the state. While initial disarmament was tied to the American troop departure, Mr Al Zaidi noted this week that the broader process is expected to be completed by next June. Officials in Baghdad have indicated that ending the coalition's mission removes a primary justification used by militias to retain their weapons, with Mr Al Zaidi describing the period following October 1 as a new, foreign-military-free phase for Iraq.