The United States has completed the withdrawal of all its military forces from Iraq, formally ending a 12-year mission aimed at defeating the Islamic State (ISIS) group.
The Pentagon confirmed on Wednesday, September 30, that the remaining US-led coalition troops and equipment had departed Erbil Air Base in northern Iraq. The withdrawal marks the end of Operation Inherent Resolve, the international military operation launched in 2014 to support Iraqi forces against ISIS.
The departure follows a 2024 agreement between Washington and Baghdad to gradually end the coalition’s military mission in Iraq. Under the agreement, combat operations were first wound down before the remaining forces supporting operations against ISIS in the region were withdrawn.
US forces had returned to Iraq in 2014 after ISIS captured large areas of the country and declared a so-called caliphate. American troops subsequently provided Iraqi forces with training, intelligence, air support and other military assistance.
The Iraqi government declared the territorial defeat of ISIS in 2017, but US-led forces remained in the country to help prevent the group’s resurgence. The United States has now transferred primary responsibility for dealing with remaining ISIS cells and other security threats to Iraqi authorities.
The withdrawal is being marked in Iraq as an important moment of national sovereignty. Baghdad has declared September 30 to October 3 as “Sovereignty Days” to commemorate the end of the foreign military presence. Iraqi security forces have also held ceremonies and parades to mark the departure.
However, the end of the American military presence has also generated security concerns. Some Iraqi officials and analysts have warned that ISIS sleeper cells remain active and that Iran-aligned armed groups could gain greater influence following the US departure.
The Kurdish region has expressed particular concern because American forces previously provided important air-defence, intelligence and logistical support. Kurdish officials have warned that the loss of some of these capabilities could leave the region more exposed to attacks.
The withdrawal is also taking place against the backdrop of wider tensions between the United States and Iran. Iran-backed Iraqi militias have previously attacked US positions in Iraq, while Washington has carried out strikes against some of those groups.
Despite the withdrawal, the United States says its relationship with Iraq is not ending. Washington plans to maintain targeted training and intelligence support for Iraqi partners, while the international coalition’s headquarters has moved to Jordan. US forces will also continue counter-ISIS operations in neighbouring Syria.
The end of the mission therefore represents a major change in the US military’s role in Iraq, with Iraqi security forces now expected to take full responsibility for protecting the country and preventing a resurgence of ISIS.
