All US soldiers are set to leave Niger, ending their role in the fight against Islamist insurgents. Washington says it has firmed up plans with the West African nation's military rulers to withdraw its more than 1,000 troops. The US has also agreed to close down its big drone base near the city of Agadez in the Sahara desert.

The United States is attempting to create a new military agreement with Niger that would allow it to remain in the country, weeks after the junta said its presence was no longer justified, two Western officials told The Associated Press Friday.

Niger has been home to a major U.S. airbase in the city of Agadez, some 550 miles from the capital Niamey, using it for manned and unmanned surveillance flights and other operations.

US Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell met with Niger’s Prime Minister Ali Lamine Zeine on Friday and they agreed – after Niger’s demands – that the US would militarily withdraw from the country,

The United States will withdraw its troops from Niger, a source familiar with the matter told Reuters late on Friday, adding an agreement was reached between U.S Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell and Niger's leadership.

A top State Department official accepted Niger’s demand that U.S. forces leave the West African country, a move the Biden administration has long resisted.

The status of a $110 million air base in the desert remains unclear as the West African country deepens its ties with Russia.

The United States agreed Friday to withdraw its more than 1,000 troops from Niger, officials said, upending its posture in West Africa where the country was home to a major drone base.They agreed that a US delegation would head within days to the capital Niamey to arrange an orderly withdrawal,

The United States will withdraw 1,000 US military personnel from the West African country in the coming months, the New York Times reported.