US Military Completes Withdrawal of Troops from Iraq

The US military announced on September 30, 2026, that it has completed the withdrawal of its troops from Iraq, concluding a 12-year mission aimed at combating the Islamic State group. The last US troops departed from the air base in Irbil, located in northern Iraq, as part of an agreement between the governments of Baghdad and Washington. This withdrawal occurs amid ongoing tensions between the United States and Iran, which have sometimes affected Iraq. Iraqi officials have characterized the withdrawal as a demonstration of the country's growing strength and sovereignty. Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell stated that the withdrawal represented an 'orderly departure' and highlighted the success of the campaign against ISIS, transitioning to an Iraqi-led security effort. Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi oversaw the handover ceremony, framing the withdrawal as the start of a new phase for Iraq, emphasizing its sovereignty and institutional strength. US troops initially invaded Iraq in 2003 to remove Saddam Hussein and returned in 2014 to assist in the fight against ISIS. Following significant reductions in ISIS's presence, the US and Iraq agreed in 2024 to conclude the military mission. While the US had already reduced its troop presence significantly, concerns remain in the Kurdish region regarding security, particularly following the removal of US air defense systems. The Kurdish regional government reported over 1,000 drone and missile attacks during the recent US-Iran conflict. Iran-backed groups in Iraq have celebrated the US withdrawal, with a security official from Kataib Hezbollah declaring it a step towards full sovereignty for Iraq. The Iraqi government had initially set a deadline for militia disarmament to coincide with the US withdrawal but has since extended this deadline to June 2027.