- The United States completed its military withdrawal from Iraq on September 30, 2026.
- The final US troops and equipment left Erbil Air Base in the Kurdistan Region.
- Operation Inherent Resolve has ended in Iraq after a 12-year counter-ISIS mission.
Erbil: The United States has completed the withdrawal of its remaining troops and military equipment from Iraq, formally ending its 12-year military mission against Islamic State.
The final US personnel and equipment departed from Erbil Air Base in Iraq’s semi-autonomous Kurdistan Region on September 30, marking the end of the Operation Inherent Resolve mission in Iraq.
The withdrawal follows a 2024 agreement between Washington and Baghdad to conclude the US-led coalition’s military mission in Iraq and move toward a bilateral security relationship.
US Ends Operation Inherent Resolve Mission in Iraq
US Central Command said the departure from Erbil was completed in an orderly manner. The end of the mission marks a transition from the US-led wartime coalition campaign to an Iraqi-led security effort.
The US military said the campaign had succeeded in defeating ISIS as an organised military force in Iraq. Iraqi security forces, including Kurdish Peshmerga forces, are now expected to take primary responsibility for security threats inside the country.
The broader Combined Joint Task Force-Operation Inherent Resolve will continue its counter-ISIS activities from Jordan, with US forces working alongside coalition partners and the Syrian government in Syria.
US-Iraq Security Cooperation to Continue
The troop withdrawal does not end security cooperation between Washington and Baghdad. The two countries are moving toward a conventional bilateral defense relationship involving areas such as intelligence sharing, training and security cooperation.
Iraqi officials have described the withdrawal as an important step for national sovereignty and the strengthening of state security institutions.
The United States first invaded Iraq in 2003, leading to the removal of Saddam Hussein. American forces withdrew in 2011 but returned three years later after ISIS captured large areas of Iraq and Syria.
The US-led coalition subsequently provided Iraqi forces with air support, intelligence, training and other assistance during operations against ISIS. Iraq declared victory over the group in 2017, although ISIS cells have continued to operate in parts of the region.
Kurdish Region Raises Security Concerns
While Baghdad has presented the withdrawal as a milestone for Iraqi sovereignty, officials in Iraq’s Kurdistan Region have raised concerns about the security implications.
The final withdrawal included the departure of US military assets that had provided air-defense capabilities. Kurdish officials have expressed concern that the region could face greater security risks amid continuing tensions involving Iran and armed groups.
At the same time, Iran-aligned armed groups in Iraq welcomed the departure of US forces and described it as the end of the American military presence in the country.
The withdrawal therefore marks a major change in Iraq’s security arrangement. Iraqi forces will assume greater responsibility for confronting ISIS remnants and other security challenges, while Washington’s role shifts from a direct military mission toward bilateral training, intelligence and defense cooperation.
The next phase will depend on the ability of Iraqi institutions and security forces to manage these threats while maintaining cooperation with international partners.
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