US Army confirms withdrawal of Patriot air defense systems from Erbil

WASHINGTON, United States — WASHINGTON — The U.S. Army confirmed that Patriot air defense systems have been withdrawn from Erbil, in the semi-autonomous Kurdish region of northern Iraq. A U.S. military official said Central Command is continuing to reposition forces and equipment to other bases where they are assigned. The official's statement followed reports about the removal of Patriot batteries from Erbil, the future of air defense systems in the region and the status of aircraft previously used against missile attacks. The U.S. has been carrying out a broader repositioning of its military presence across the Middle East in recent months. Patriot systems have been deployed in Iraq in recent years to protect U.S. forces and facilities, including in Erbil, which has been targeted by rocket and drone attacks by Iran-backed militias. No further details on the timeline of the withdrawal or the redeployment destination were immediately available.