U.S. forces have withdrawn from Iraq’s Ain al-Asad Airbase, has learned. 

The pullout from the base—part of an ongoing regional troop consolidation effort announced last fall—was completed by Friday, sources from U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) told . 

“We can consolidate because of the significant progress made there—ISIS no longer poses a threat beyond Iraq’s ability to handle on its own,” a U.S. official told . The official added that this reflects “our success in rooting out the ISIS threat in Iraq and Iraqi forces’ willingness and progress in standing on their own.”

The official also stated that U.S. forces are consolidating outside Iraq’s federal territory, meaning they’re concentrating troops elsewhere to focus on engaging remaining ISIS elements in Syria. 

This move comes as CENTCOM calls for cooperation and teamwork among in coordination with U.S. forces to combat ISIS. 

“We welcome ongoing efforts by all parties in Syria to prevent escalation and pursue resolution through dialogue. We also urge Syrian government forces to cease any offensive actions in the areas between Aleppo and al-Tabqa. Aggressively targeting ISIS and maintaining relentless military pressure requires teamwork among Syrian partners and coordination with U.S. and coalition forces. A Syria at peace with itself and its neighbors is essential to peace and stability across the region,” Adm. Brad Cooper, CENTCOM commander, said in a statement .

The statement appeared to be a call for increased coordination in countering ISIS rather than a warning to Damascus. 

On Jan. 10, CENTCOM announced that the U.S., alongside partner forces, conducted large-scale strikes against ISIS targets in Syria. 

According to CENTCOM, the strikes were part of Operation Hawkeye Strike, announced on Dec. 19, 2025, at the direction of President . The operation was launched “in direct response to the deadly ISIS attack on U.S. and Syrian forces in Palmyra, Syria,” CENTCOM said in a statement.

The Jan. 10 strikes coincided with U.S. Special Envoy for Syria Tom Barrack’s announcement that he met in Damascus with Syria’s new leadership to discuss the country’s future. 

“Today, on behalf of President Donald J. Trump and Secretary of State , I met with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani, and members of their team in Damascus,” Barrack . 

Barrack said the talks focused on “recent developments in Aleppo and the broader path forward for Syria’s historic transition,” adding that the United States “welcomes Syria’s historic transition and extends its support to the Syrian government under President Ahmed al-Sharaa.”

War Secretary announced the launch of Operation Hawkeye Strike in December, saying it was in response to an attack on U.S. forces in Syria that occurred on Dec. 13. Hegseth said the actions were “not the beginning of a war” but rather “a .”

“Earlier today, U.S. forces commenced OPERATION HAWKEYE STRIKE in Syria to eliminate ISIS fighters, infrastructure, and weapons sites in direct response to the attack on U.S. forces that occurred on December 13th in Palmyra, Syria,” Hegseth . 

On Dec. 19, U.S. military forces employed more than 100 precision munitions to strike over 70 suspected ISIS targets at multiple locations across the ancient central Syrian city of Palmyra. 

Trump had previously vowed revenge on the terror group after two soldiers—Sgt. Edgar Brian Torres-Tovar, 25, of Des Moines, Iowa, and Sgt. William Nathaniel Howard, 29, of Marshalltown, Iowa—and interpreter Ayad Mansoor Sakat of Michigan were killed while conducting a key leader engagement, part of their mission supporting ongoing counter-ISIS/counter-terrorism operations in the region. 

Partner forces killed the gunman. 

“Because of ISIS’s vicious killing of brave American Patriots in Syria, whose beautiful souls I welcomed home to American soil earlier this week in a very dignified ceremony, I am hereby announcing that the United States is inflicting very serious retaliation, just as I promised, on the murderous terrorists responsible,” he wrote on on Dec. 19. 

Digital’s Jasmine Baehr and Louis Casiano, and ‘ Lucas Tomlinson contributed to this report.