US completes military withdrawal from Iraq, ending Operation Inherent Resolve there

The United States has completed the withdrawal of its forces from Iraq, the Pentagon and US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced on Wednesday, 30 September 2026. The final US personnel and equipment left Erbil Air Base in Iraq's northern Kurdish region.

"Today, the United States and our coalition partners formally concluded Operation Inherent Resolve in Iraq," the Pentagon said in a statement quoted by The Guardian.

The withdrawal follows a 2024 agreement between Washington and Baghdad, reached under the Biden administration, to wind down the US-led coalition mission. It ends a mission against the Islamic State group (ISIS) that began in 2014. US and coalition forces left bases in most of Iraq last year. Hundreds of troops had remained in the Kurdish region until the final departure.

The Pentagon said the US will continue to provide training and intelligence support to Iraqi forces. The reports reviewed by Vocemundi do not describe how many personnel, if any, will remain to deliver that support.

The US invaded Iraq in 2003. Its troops left in 2011 and returned in 2014 after ISIS seized large areas of the country. A war involving the United States and Iran began on 28 February 2026. US forces in Iraq have since come under attack from Iran-aligned groups. According to Fox News, seven of the 18 US service members killed in Iranian attacks this year died in Iraq.

According to CENTCOM, as reported by Fox News, the anti-ISIS task force remains active and is now headquartered in Jordan. Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi presided over the handover ceremony, according to Daily Sabah.

The Iraqi government has sought to bring weapons held by non-state armed groups under state control. Some of the most powerful Iran-aligned militias have resisted. According to Daily Sabah, al-Zaidi told The New York Times that the disarmament deadline has been pushed to June 2027.

What is disputed

The reports are unclear on whether the US-Iran war is ongoing. Daily Sabah calls it both "ongoing" and "recent". Fox News refers to "this year's war" without saying whether it has ended.

What each side says

• Pentagon: "The primary responsibility for addressing Iraq's remaining security challenges, including ISIS remnants and Iran-aligned militias that undermine Iraqi sovereignty and regional stability, now rests with the Government of Iraq," spokesman Sean Parnell said, as quoted by Fox News.
• CENTCOM: Commander Adm. Brad Cooper said US and coalition forces in the region "will remain ready to respond to any ISIS threats that arise", according to Fox News.
• US President Donald Trump: "This is a great day for America," he said, according to The Guardian.
• Iraqi government: Al-Zaidi described a "new phase, one defined by Iraq's sovereignty", according to Daily Sabah.
• Kurdish authorities: They said the US departure "without the provision of a defense system, is a matter of concern", according to Daily Sabah.
• Kataib Hezbollah: Security official Abu Mujahid al-Assaf called the withdrawal "the beginning of full sovereignty", Daily Sabah reported.
• Analysts: Jassim al-Bahadli, an adviser to the security forces, told Reuters that security vacuums can be extremely dangerous, while retired general Mohammed al-Juburi said the key question is whether Iraq has a plan for the new phase, The Guardian reported.

Analysis

The withdrawal shifts responsibility for Iraq's security to Baghdad at a time of regional tension. Several questions remain open. One is whether Iraqi forces can contain ISIS remnants without a US troop presence, as US commanders say they can. Another is whether the Iraqi government can disarm powerful Iran-aligned militias, with the deadline now reportedly set for June 2027. The Kurdish region's air-defense concerns are a further unresolved issue. The reports do not define the planned "normal bilateral security relationship". How that relationship takes shape could influence Iraq's stability and its balance between Washington and Tehran.

Produced by the Vocemundi newsroom with AI assistance.