US reportedly begins withdrawal from Iraq's Kurdistan Region, leaving it exposed to Iranian attacks

❗️US reportedly begins withdrawal from Iraq's Kurdistan Region, leaving it exposed to Iranian attacks ▪️According to Asharq al-Awsat, US forces have begun a pre-planned withdrawal from Iraq's Kurdistan Region, including the gradual removal of troops, heavy military equipment, and Patriot air defense systems from Harir Air Base near Erbil. ▪️Kifah Mahmoud, media adviser to the president of the Kurdistan Democratic Party, claimed reports of a complete US withdrawal reflected a "misunderstanding," explaining that the drawdown had been planned for months under an agreement between Baghdad and Washington ahead of the coalition's scheduled departure by the end of September. ▪️Mahmoud said not all US air defenses had been removed, with sufficient systems remaining to protect US interests in the region. He added that US personnel previously redeployed from Ain al-Asad Air Base to Harir are now preparing to relocate to bases in other countries, while stressing that the US presence in Kurdistan primarily consists of advisers and trainers supporting the Iraqi military and the Peshmerga. ▪️The report notes that Harir Air Base and other locations across the Kurdistan Region have repeatedly come under missile and drone attacks by Iran and allied Iraqi factions. Citing Rudaw, it said the Kurdistan Region experienced 88 missile and drone attacks in July, killing 10 people and injuring 15. Kurdish sources expect attacks to continue even after the US withdrawal, while noting that the Peshmerga may have recently acquired counter-drone systems that successfully intercepted several drones over Erbil. ▪️Meanwhile, Amberin Zaman of Al-Monitor said that the US is nearing a full withdrawal from Iraq's Kurdistan Region, with the bulk of US troops and heavy equipment already removed from Harir Air Base and all Patriot air defense batteries reportedly redeployed to an undisclosed location. The Al-Monitor report said the drawdown could leave the region more vulnerable to operations by Iran and Iraqi resistance factions, which have launched nearly 1,000 missiles and drones at the Kurdistan Region since February.