US and coalition troops complete Iraq withdrawal after 12-year anti-ISIS mission

Completion of the coalition withdrawal

The United States and allied international forces completed their withdrawal from Iraq on Wednesday, September 30, concluding the 12-year military campaign known as Operation Inherent Resolve. The exit met the timetable established under a bilateral agreement signed between Washington and Baghdad two years prior, in 2024. Roughly 1,500 coalition personnel remained in the country before the departure deadline, including the final 100 British military personnel stationed in Erbil. Remaining coalition assets departed through Erbil Air Base in the northern Kurdistan region, with some personnel shifting to regional headquarters in Jordan. Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell stated that the departure concludes the wartime coalition mission, transitioning security responsibilities entirely to Iraqi authorities.

Baghdad declares sovereignty and disarmament targets

In Baghdad, Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi announced the start of a four-day national holiday titled Sovereignty Day to mark the complete departure across land, air, and sea. Iraqi security forces held vehicle parades in Baghdad and Najaf, celebrating the formal end of foreign military deployments. Al-Zaidi stated that the conclusion of the international mission opens a new chapter in which Iraq assumes undivided authority over its territorial defense.

“A new phase has begun, defined by Iraq's sovereignty, the strength of its institutions, the readiness of its forces, unity of decision-making and balanced partnerships with its friends.”

The prime minister also designated October 1 as the launch of a formal roadmap to disarm groups operating outside state authority by June 30, 2027. Disarming heavily armed pro-Iran militias remains an unresolved internal challenge, as prominent factions have rejected voluntary integration into the national security apparatus.

Kurdish restructuring and regional security concerns

In northern Iraq, Kurdish authorities reorganized regional defense structures ahead of the coalition departure. The Kurdistan Regional Government announced on September 21 that it had unified armed Peshmerga units previously divided between the Kurdistan Democratic Party and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan. Kurdish Regional Government President Nechirvan Barzani framed the merger as an essential step for regional institutional cohesion.

“Kurdistan needs one force, one ministry, and one command. The Peshmerga must be a national force, free from party interference and disputes. Today, we take a major step towards achieving this goal.”

Despite the unification, regional leaders expressed security concerns regarding potential defense gaps. Kurdish commander Sirwan Barzani warned that regional forces lack the capability to defend Kurdistan's airspace independently. Political analyst Zeidon Alkinani noted that curbing factional control within the Peshmerga strengthens stability and reinforces Erbil's legal relationship with the central government in Baghdad.

Regional reactions and the legacy of the conflict

The troop withdrawal drew distinct responses across the region and in Washington. Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps issued a statement describing the American departure as a victory driven by Iraqi national determination. The withdrawal coincided with ongoing military tensions between Washington and Tehran that began in late February. In Washington, President Donald Trump commended the completion of the withdrawal on schedule.

“This day is a victory for the United States, a victory for Iraq, and a decisive victory over ISIS.”

The military departure concludes an era that began with the March 2003 invasion under President George W. Bush. Over the course of the conflict, more than 4,500 United States service members died, while the Iraq Body Count project recorded more than 200,000 Iraqi civilian fatalities. While combat missions have ceased, the Pentagon confirmed that the United States will maintain targeted intelligence sharing and training partnerships for Iraqi security forces.