Pentagon Confirms U.S. Military Withdrawal from Agadez, Niger, Closes Key Drone Base

Aug 5, 2024, 02:07 PM

The U.S. military has completed its withdrawal from its last base in Niger, marking the end of a yearslong counterterrorism mission in the West African country. The final ceremony took place in Agadez, attended by both Nigerian and American military officials. This move follows a directive from Niger's ruling junta, which ordered the nearly 1,000 U.S. military personnel to leave after a military coup last year. The withdrawal includes the closure of a key drone base, Air Base 201. The Pentagon confirmed the withdrawal, which follows the termination of a military agreement in March. The region remains volatile, with increasing threats from extremist groups such as ISGS and ISWAP.