United States Completes Military Withdrawal From Iraq

The Government of the United States completed the withdrawal of its remaining 2,500 troops and military equipment from Iraq on September 30, 2026. This action concludes the 12-year Operation Inherent Resolve mission against ISIS and ends a military presence that began with the 2003 invasion. The pullout, which included the removal of Patriot air defense systems from Erbil, was agreed upon in 2024 under Joe Biden and executed by the administration of Donald Trump.

Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi declared October 1 as Independence Day, marking a restoration of national sovereignty. However, the exit has created a security vacuum. Kurdish commanders and security officials report increased activity from Islamic State sleeper cells, while the removal of U.S. air defenses has left the Kurdistan Region vulnerable to Iranian drone and missile attacks. Italy also ended its 12-year deployment on September 29.

Simultaneously, Prime Minister al-Zaidi is attempting to disarm pro-Iranian militias within the Popular Mobilization Forces. While he originally promised President Trump a September 30 deadline for disarmament, al-Zaidi has since extended that date to June 30, 2027. Hardline groups, including Kata'ib Sayyid Al-Shuhada, have rejected these orders, claiming their weapons are essential for sovereignty. Iran and its allied militias have celebrated the U.S. departure as a strategic victory for the axis of resistance. Despite the military exit, the U.S. maintains economic leverage as Iraq's oil revenues remain held at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.