US Hands Over Diplomatic Support Centre at Baghdad Airport to Iraq

US Charge d'Affaires Steven Fagin and Iraqi Deputy Foreign Minister Mohammed Hussein Bahr al-Uloom signed an agreement transferring the Diplomatic Support Centre at Baghdad International Airport to the Iraqi government, days ahead of the September 30 deadline for full US-led coalition withdrawal. The facility, originally part of the US Victory Base military installation, was repurposed as a diplomatic and logistics hub during the 2011 troop withdrawal and has faced repeated drone and rocket attacks since the US-Iran war began in February 2026. Bahr al-Uloom said the handover was 'transitioning a new phase of co-operation and partnership in a number of areas of mutual interest.'