The United States military has completed its final withdrawal from Iraq, bringing an end to a 12-year security mission focused on defeating the Islamic State group (ISIS) and handing over primary security responsibilities to Iraqi national forces.
According to an announcement from U.S. Central Command on Wednesday, the last American troops and military equipment departed Erbil Air Base in northern Iraq in what was described as an "orderly departure." This final movement formally concludes the military mission of Operation Inherent Resolve in Iraq, fulfilling the terms of a 2024 bilateral agreement signed between Washington and Baghdad.
While the U.S. military declared that the campaign successfully dismantled ISIS as an organized military threat in the country, the relationship will transition rather than end entirely. The Department of War stated that American forces will transition to a bilateral defense partnership, continuing to offer targeted training and intelligence support to their Iraqi counterparts.
The complete exit has sparked intense debate among security analysts and regional officials regarding the future stability of Iraq. While Iran-aligned militias celebrated the departure, authorities in Iraq’s semi-autonomous Kurdish region expressed deep worry over the loss of critical U.S. military capabilities, particularly air-defense systems. Reports from Reuters and the Associated Press highlighted anxieties among Iraqi security officials who fear that the vacuum could provide operational openings for remaining ISIS sleeper cells and expand the influence of powerful Iran-backed militias.
This exit marks the end of a second major U.S. military phase in Iraq. Following the initial 2003 invasion, U.S. forces withdrew in 2011, only to return in 2014 after ISIS seized vast territories across Iraq and Syria. This rapid expansion prompted the creation of a U.S.-led global coalition. Although Iraq declared victory over the group's territorial caliphate in 2017, scattered sleeper cells have remained active. The decision to wind down the coalition's mission was finalized in 2024, with the majority of U.S. forces exiting Iraqi bases last year, leaving a concentrated force at Erbil Air Base as the final departure hub.
Outside of Iraq, the coalition's broader counter-ISIS mission remains active. CENTCOM confirmed that the coalition headquarters has relocated to Jordan, and U.S. forces will continue to conduct counter-ISIS operations in neighboring Syria alongside coalition partners and the Syrian government.
The Department of War emphasized that the Iraqi government now holds primary responsibility for securing the nation against internal threats, including ISIS remnants and Iran-aligned militias. Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi characterized the withdrawal as the dawn of a new era centered on national sovereignty and the reinforcement of state security institutions. Al-Zaidi pledged that Iraqi forces would keep up the pressure on ISIS and stated his administration would work to disarm non-state actors.
However, the disarmament of these militias remains a highly contentious and unresolved issue. While some smaller armed factions have agreed to hand over their weapons, more powerful Iran-backed groups have rejected disarmament or demanded strict conditions. Consequently, Al-Zaidi has extended the government's official deadline for militia disarmament to June 2027.
Security experts and regional commanders remain skeptical of the transition. Kurdish and Iraqi officials told Reuters that they are highly concerned about losing access to U.S. intelligence, logistical support, and drone surveillance capabilities used to monitor ISIS remnants. Sirwan Barzani, a Kurdish commander, reported observing increased movement by suspected ISIS sleeper cells immediately following the announcement of the U.S. withdrawal. Furthermore, Kurdish officials pointed to the vulnerability of their region, noting it had endured over 1,000 drone and ballistic-missile attacks during the recent conflict between the United States and Iran. Despite these concerns, the Department of War maintained that Iraqi forces are fully prepared to take the lead, reiterating that Washington remains committed to counterterrorism and preventing any resurgence of ISIS.
Related Articles
Mr. Udoy is a professional Web Developer and Blogger with 7+ years of experience in the tech world. He specializes in web architecture and digital storytelling. As the driving force behind worldincidents.com, he focuses on delivering high-quality, well-researched content to a global audience.