The United States has pulled its last troops out of Iraq, ending a 12-year mission against Islamic State and a military presence in the country that dates to the 2003 invasion, U.S. and Iraqi officials said.
The departure was completed on Sept. 30, meeting a deadline set in a 2024 agreement between Baghdad and the Biden administration. The Trump administration kept to that timetable. The final contingent left from bases in the northern city of Erbil. Most U.S. forces had already left the rest of Iraq earlier this year, leaving about 1,500 personnel in the Kurdistan Region. For years, around 2,500 American troops had been deployed in the country.
Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Al-Zaidi attended a ceremony marking the end of the international coalition’s mission. President Donald Trump described the exit as a success for the United States. Al-Zaidi said Baghdad is exploring bilateral security arrangements with Washington and expects American firms to remain active in the country even though the troops are gone.
The withdrawal comes during the war between the United States and Iran, which has altered the regional picture since the 2024 agreement was reached. An Iran-aligned militia, As’hab Al-Kahf, welcomed the departure and credited its own drone and missile attacks. Analysts said Tehran stands to gain room to maneuver in Iraq, but may find it harder to turn the U.S. absence into lasting influence without triggering instability. Esmail Qaani, commander of Iran’s Quds Force, has said any remaining American presence should also end.
The exit could strengthen the Iraqi government in talks over disarming armed groups outside state control. Some Iran-backed factions have said they would give up their weapons only after foreign forces leave.
