United States Concludes Military Mission in Iraq After Twelve Years
The departure closes a long campaign against Islamic State while Baghdad postpones plans to disarm allied paramilitary groups.
United States combat and logistical forces completed their withdrawal from Iraq ahead of a Sept. 30 deadline, an Iraqi government official said. The exit formally ends the American-led Operation Inherent Resolve military mission against the Islamic State group after 12 years.
The withdrawal concludes a presence established when Islamic State seized large swaths of Iraqi and Syrian territory in 2014. American forces previously withdrew from Iraq in 2011, eight years after the 2003 invasion, before returning at Baghdad's invitation. In 2024, Washington and Baghdad established a bilateral agreement to conclude the coalition mission in stages.
Iraqi officials declared the final departure as the start of an era of complete national sovereignty. The government declared four days of public holidays starting Wednesday to mark the exit as an Independence Day celebration.
The withdrawal leaves unresolved questions over the status of heavily armed Iraqi militias. Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi had initially tied the coalition departure to a Sept. 30 deadline for Iran-aligned factions to disarm. Hard-line groups including Kata'ib Hizbollah and Harakat al-Nujaba resisted handing over their stockpiles.
The Iraqi government altered that timeline following discussions in Washington and New York. Factions agreed to an initial 90-day pause in attacks starting Sept. 30. Under the new schedule, the government delayed the completion of militia disarmament and integration into state forces until June 30, 2027.
Regional officials voiced conflicting reactions over the security environment left behind. Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani told the Financial Times that the departure leaves northern Iraq vulnerable, citing a lack of air defense systems. By contrast, Iran-aligned political blocs welcomed the full removal of American forces from the country.
The formal deadline for the departure of all remaining personnel expires Wednesday, when Iraq begins its four-day national holiday.
