US completes pullout of troops and Patriot systems from Iraq's Kurdistan region

The United States has begun drawing down its final forces stationed near Erbil’s airport in Iraq’s Kurdistan Region, removing the last Patriot air‑defence batteries and preparing to withdraw roughly 2,000 troops from Harir Air Base by 30 September 2026. The drawdown follows a bilateral agreement reached in September 2024 and a meeting on 14 July 2026 between Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al‑Zaidi and U.S. President Donald Trump that reaffirmed the September deadline. Earlier in the year, U.S. forces completed their exit from federal Iraqi territory, vacating bases such as al‑Asad. Iraqi officials say the withdrawal will leave the Kurdistan Region more exposed amid ongoing Iranian missile and drone attacks, while also opening space for U.S. companies and disarmament of militia groups. Analysts note that any security vacuum could affect oil markets and risk‑on assets, including cryptocurrency, as regional instability often drives macro volatility.