The United States has formally completed the withdrawal of its remaining troops from Iraq, ending a 12-year military mission focused on defeating the Islamic State (ISIS). The final American forces and equipment departed Erbil Air Base in northern Iraq’s semi-autonomous Kurdistan Region on 30 September 2026, the Pentagon announced.
This marks the successful conclusion of Operation Inherent Resolve in Iraq and closes more than two decades of significant US military involvement in the country, which began with the 2003 invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein. US forces first withdrew in 2011 before returning in 2014 to help combat the rapid territorial gains of ISIS.
Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell said: “This milestone reflects the success of a 12-year campaign that defeated ISIS as an organized military threat in Iraq and across the region. It also marks a transition from a wartime coalition mission to an Iraqi-led security effort supported by a more normal bilateral security relationship.”
The primary responsibility for addressing remaining security challenges — including ISIS remnants and Iran-aligned militias — now rests with the Government of Iraq. The United States will continue to provide targeted training and intelligence support.
Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi presided over a handover ceremony and described the withdrawal as the start of “a new phase, one defined by Iraq’s sovereignty, the strength of its institutions, the readiness of its forces, the unity of its decision-making, and balanced partnerships with its friends.” Iraq declared a multi-day public holiday known as “Sovereignty Days” or “Days of Sovereignty” to mark the occasion, with celebrations and parades held in Baghdad and other cities
US Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed the orderly departure from Erbil, which had hosted the bulk of the remaining several hundred US and coalition personnel after forces withdrew from most other bases in federal Iraq during 2025.
The withdrawal follows a 2024 agreement between Washington and Baghdad (under the Biden administration) that was carried forward under President Donald Trump. US and coalition forces had gradually reduced their footprint, shifting primarily to an advisory and support role after ISIS lost its territorial caliphate in 2017–2019.
The broader counter-ISIS campaign is not ending. The Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve headquarters has relocated to Jordan, and operations continue in Syria alongside coalition partners.
Iran and its allies in the region celebrated the departure as a victory. However, some Iraqi security experts and Kurdish officials have expressed concern that the absence of US forces could create opportunities for ISIS sleeper cells to reconstitute or for Iran-backed militias to expand influence. The Iraqi government has postponed full disarmament of non-state armed groups until at least June 2027.
All foreign soldiers are now reported to have left Iraqi territory, including the Kurdistan Region. The United States maintains that it remains ready to respond to any renewed ISIS threats from regional bases.
This development ends a major chapter in modern Middle East history and shifts the security burden fully onto Iraqi institutions while preserving bilateral cooperation.
