U.S. Completes Military Withdrawal from Iraq, Ending 12-Year Counter-ISIS Mission
NEWSOTHER NEWS
10/2/20263 min read
BAGHDAD / WASHINGTON — The United States military has officially completed the withdrawal of all American combat forces from Iraq, bringing a formal end to the 12-year anti-ISIS coalition campaign known as Operation Inherent Resolve.
The final contingent of U.S. personnel and equipment completed an orderly departure from Erbil Air Base in the semi-autonomous Kurdistan Region of northern Iraq, concluding a phased transition plan negotiated between Washington and Baghdad.
The withdrawal marks the end of a military presence re-established in 2014, when the U.S. returned to Iraq at the invitation of the Iraqi government to halt the rapid territorial expansion of the Islamic State (ISIS).
A Shift to Bilateral Relations
In official statements, the Pentagon confirmed that American forces had completely handed over primary operational duties to Iraqi military authorities and the Kurdish Regional Government’s Peshmerga forces.
"This milestone reflects the success of a 12-year campaign that defeated ISIS as an organized military threat in Iraq and across the region," said chief Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell. "It signifies a change from a wartime coalition mission to an Iraqi-led security operation supported by a normal bilateral security relationship."
The Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve (CJTF-OIR) has officially relocated its regional headquarters to Jordan, where U.S. forces will continue monitoring regional security threats, providing intelligence support, and conducting targeted counter-terrorism advisement.
During a handover ceremony in Baghdad, Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi hailed the departure as a crucial step for the nation's independence and institutional strength.
"The conclusion of the coalition's military mission opens a new phase defined by Iraq’s full sovereignty, the readiness of our security forces, and balanced international partnerships," Prime Minister al-Zaidi stated. "The end of this mission does not mean the end of our battle against terrorism, but Iraq now takes full responsibility for protecting its land and people."
Historical Context: From 2003 to 2026
The complete exit concludes a complex, multi-decade American military engagement in Iraq that began with the 2003 invasion that overthrew Saddam Hussein.
2003–2011: Following the initial invasion, U.S. forces remained in Iraq for eight years before conducting a full withdrawal in December 2011 under the Obama administration.
2014: Less than three years later, ISIS launched a massive offensive across northern and western Iraq, capturing major cities like Mosul. Iraqi authorities requested international assistance, prompting the U.S. to lead an international coalition to rebuild Iraqi military capacity and conduct airstrikes.
2017–2024: ISIS lost its last physical territorial foothold in Iraq in late 2017. Over subsequent years, U.S. troop levels were gradually drawn down from over 5,000 to approximately 2,500, with remaining forces focused strictly on advising, training, and intelligence sharing.
2024–2026 Plan: In 2024, Washington and Baghdad established a timeline to phase out the multilateral coalition. The process culminated in the departure from federal bases in late 2025 and the final exit from Erbil in late September 2026.
Regional Implications and Security Concerns
While the handover is viewed in Baghdad as a milestone for national sovereignty, the exit takes place amidst a complex regional security environment.
Differing Regional Reactions
Baghdad and Central Iraq: Government officials and public parades in Baghdad celebrated the transition, emphasizing national unity and military self-reliance.
Iran-Backed Militias: Armed political factions and militia groups praised the departure, characterizing it as a victory for the country’s independence.
Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG): Officials in the northern Kurdish region expressed heightened concern regarding the removal of U.S. air defense installations, pointing to persistent regional drone and missile strikes, as well as residual ISIS sleeper cells in rural pockets.
Military analysts note that while ISIS no longer controls territory or possesses heavy weapons in Iraq, low-level insurgency networks remain active in remote mountainous and desert regions. Iraqi security forces will now bear sole responsibility for conducting counter-terrorism sweeps and preventing any resurgence.
What Comes Next?
The U.S. and Iraq will continue defense cooperation through a diplomatic and bilateral framework rather than a coalition battle mandate. American military personnel will offer ongoing technical advice, equipment maintenance support, and intelligence sharing from regional command centers outside Iraq.
For Iraq, the focus now turns toward domestic stabilization, consolidating state control over armed groups, and reinforcing border security to maintain long-term peace across the region.