US Completes Troop Withdrawal From Iraq After 23 Years

The United States has completed the withdrawal of its military forces from Iraq, concluding a 23-year presence that began with the 2003 invasion and later evolved into a campaign against the Islamic State.

U.S. Central Command announced the orderly departure of the last troops from Erbil Air Base on Wednesday, September 30, 2026. This marks the end of Operation Inherent Resolve, a mission that began in 2014 to combat the Islamic State group. The withdrawal was finalized under a 2024 agreement between Washington and Baghdad. Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi stated this withdrawal signals a new phase, one defined by Iraq’s sovereignty, the strength of its institutions, the readiness of its forces, the unity of its decision-making, and balanced partnerships with its friends.

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) welcomed the withdrawal, calling it a historic victory and an expulsion, and urged American troops to leave the Middle East. The IRGC stated that the US presence had been a source of insecurity and terrorism. Some experts warn that the US pullout could embolden Iran and potentially create a security vacuum, allowing the Islamic State group to regroup.

Iraqi armed factions backed by Tehran have stated they are not bound by any timeline or agreement to surrender their weapons to the state, despite Prime Minister al-Zaidi setting a June 30, 2027, deadline for armed factions to disarm.