The United States has completed the withdrawal of all its military forces from Iraq, marking the formal end of its 12-year military mission against the Islamic State (ISIS) in the country. U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed on September 30 that American forces and equipment had completed an orderly departure from Erbil Air Base in northern Iraq.
The withdrawal marks the conclusion of Operation Inherent Resolve in Iraq, the U.S.-led campaign launched in 2014 after ISIS seized large areas of Iraq and Syria. According to CENTCOM, the mission has now transitioned from a wartime coalition operation in Iraq to a bilateral defence relationship between Washington and Baghdad.
The final withdrawal comes under an agreement reached by the United States and Iraq in 2024 to wind down the U.S.-led military mission. Most U.S. and coalition forces had already left Iraqi bases during the preceding stages of the withdrawal, with the remaining personnel consolidated at Erbil before the final departure on September 30.
U.S. officials said the conclusion of the mission reflects the progress made against ISIS as an organized military force in Iraq. CENTCOM said the Combined Joint Task Force-Operation Inherent Resolve will remain operational, but its headquarters has moved to Jordan. U.S. forces will also continue counter-ISIS operations in Syria alongside coalition partners and the Syrian government.
The U.S. military presence in Iraq dates back to the 2003 invasion, after which American forces eventually withdrew in 2011. U.S. troops returned in 2014 at the request of the Iraqi government as ISIS rapidly expanded across the country. The subsequent international campaign helped Iraqi forces recover territory held by the militant group, with ISIS losing its territorial control in Iraq by 2017.
Following the final departure, responsibility for Iraq’s internal security will rest primarily with Iraqi security forces. Washington is expected to maintain its relationship with Baghdad through a more conventional bilateral defence partnership, including continued training and intelligence support.
The withdrawal also comes amid continuing security concerns in Iraq and the wider Middle East. Kurdish officials have expressed concern about the departure of U.S. forces and air-defence capabilities from the Kurdistan region, particularly following attacks involving drones and ballistic missiles during the recent regional conflict.
With the final American troops now out of Iraq, Washington’s military focus for counter-ISIS operations in the region will increasingly operate from Jordan and Syria. The development marks a significant change in the U.S. military posture in Iraq after more than two decades of American involvement in the country.