US completes troop withdrawal from Niger's Agadez military base: Pentagon

The Pentagon announced on Monday (August 5) that it has finished withdrawing all US forces from Air Base 201 in Agadez, Niger. This comes after a year-long demand by the country's coup leaders.

In a statement with Niger's defence ministry, the Pentagon said, the "withdrawal of US forces and assets from Air Base 201 in Agadez is complete."

While the statement did not detail any remaining assets, it assured that the full withdrawal will continue as planned in coordination with Nigerien forces.

"This effort… will continue between US and Nigerien armed forces over the coming weeks to ensure the full withdrawal is complete as planned," added the statement.

It further said that the US forces had been training Niger's military and supporting counterterrorism missions against groups like Islamic State and al-Qaeda.

"Over the past decade, US troops have trained Niger's forces and supported partner-led counterterrorism missions against Islamic State and al Qaeda in the region."

"The effective cooperation and communication between the US and Nigerien armed forces ensured that this turnover was finished ahead of schedule and without complications," it said.

US soldiers and Agadez base

As per AFP, around 200 US soldiers had been stationed at the Agadez base, in the north of Niger. The base, according to the report, was used for drone operations against jihadist groups in the region. The groups regularly strike across the region, it adds.

The coup leaders, who took control of Niger in March last year, had ordered US and French troops to leave.

(With inputs from agencies)