US President Donald Trump welcomed the completion of the US military’s withdrawal from Iraq, marking the end of a 12-year mission focused on defeating the Islamic State after the militant group seized large parts of the country.
The final US forces left Iraq on September 30 under an agreement reached between Washington and Baghdad in 2024. The departure formally ended the US-led coalition’s military mission in Iraq, with Iraqi forces taking primary responsibility for the country’s security.
The United States withdrew most of its forces from Iraq in 2011 but returned in 2014 after Islamic State fighters captured territory across Iraq and Syria. The US-led coalition subsequently supported Iraqi forces in retaking areas held by the group and ending its control of major population centers.
Although Islamic State no longer controls large territories in Iraq, its fighters and sleeper cells remain a security concern. US officials have said Washington will continue limited cooperation with Iraqi authorities, including intelligence and other forms of support.
The withdrawal also comes amid continuing concerns over Iran-backed armed groups operating in Iraq. Iraqi authorities have been seeking greater control over armed factions as the country moves toward relying more heavily on its own security institutions.
The end of the US military mission represents a major shift in the security relationship between Washington and Baghdad, while Iraq faces the challenge of maintaining stability and preventing a resurgence of extremist groups without the same level of direct US military involvement.
