Pentagon says US troop withdrawal from Iraq is complete

The Pentagon announced the formal completion of the US troop withdrawal from Iraq, concluding Operation Inherent Resolve. This withdrawal was agreed to two years ago and comes 12 years after the US mission to fight the Islamic State began. While Iran and its allies celebrated the departure as a victory, Iraqi security experts expressed concerns that the withdrawal could allow the Islamic State and other groups to recover. The Pentagon stated it will continue to provide training and intelligence support to Iraq, but the primary responsibility for security now rests with the Iraqi government. The US initially invaded Iraq in 2003, withdrew troops in 2011, and then redeployed forces in 2014 to combat the Islamic State.

Iraq is celebrating "Sovereignty Days" from September 30 to October 3 to mark the complete withdrawal of US-led coalition forces, ending over two decades of foreign military presence. This withdrawal, finalized on September 30, 2026, concludes the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIL's operations in Iraq, which began in 2014. The departure includes US military personnel and crucial equipment like air defense systems, raising concerns, particularly in the semi-autonomous Kurdish region, about security against drone and missile attacks. Iraq asserts its forces are capable of handling reconnaissance and air operations, and is pursuing new air defense systems from South Korea, Turkiye, and the United States to ensure airspace protection.

The last UK and US troops have departed Iraq, concluding a mission to combat the Islamic State group. This withdrawal fulfills a two-year-old agreement and was a significant demand of the Iraqi government. During their deployment, coalition forces provided training and assistance to over 111,000 Iraqi Security Forces and Peshmerga. The RAF conducted thousands of strikes against IS targets and is expected to continue missions in Syria. The US will maintain targeted training and intelligence support for its Iraqi partners, while the coalition's joint taskforce is now based in Jordan. US forces will also continue their IS mission in Syria. This marks the third withdrawal of US and UK forces from Iraq, following deployments in 1991 and 2003.

The Pentagon has confirmed the complete withdrawal of US troops from Iraq, concluding two decades of foreign intervention. The final contingent departed from Erbil Airbase, marking an "orderly departure" of forces involved in the anti-ISIL mission. This withdrawal, hailed by Iraq's government as a step towards sovereignty, shifts the primary responsibility for security, including combating ISIL remnants and Iranian-aligned militias, to the Iraqi Security Forces. The US will continue to provide targeted training and intelligence support. Former President Donald Trump, who initiated the withdrawal plan in 2020, celebrated the completion as a victory. The US military command overseeing the Middle East has relocated its anti-ISIL task force to Jordan.

Iraq's security forces marked 'Sovereignty Day' with parades in Baghdad and Najaf. This celebration coincided with the withdrawal of US troops from the country. The events highlight Iraq's assertion of its independence and control over its territory as foreign military presence diminishes. The parades served as a public demonstration of national pride and the strengthening of Iraqi security capabilities.

The U.S. military has completed its withdrawal of forces and equipment from Erbil Air Base in Iraq, concluding Operation Inherent Resolve. This marks the end of the U.S.-led mission against ISIS in Iraq, which began in 2014, with primary security responsibility now shifting to Iraqi forces. The broader counter-ISIS campaign continues, with the task force headquarters relocating to Jordan and operations ongoing in Syria. U.S. Central Command stated that ISIS no longer poses a systemic threat to Iraq's security, and Iraqi forces are now capable of managing threats independently. The final troop and equipment removal from Erbil occurred on September 30th.