Iraq: US troops withdraw from their Iraqi US-led Operation Inherent Resolve mission against ISIS after 12 years
As the US completes its military withdrawal from Iraq, Baghdad declares a new era of sovereignty. But as US troops leave, questions remain over militias, foreign forces and the country's future security.
On September 30, 2026, Iraq will bid farewell to the era of foreign military presence as US troops withdraw from the country after 12 years of Operation Inherent Resolve, combating ISIS. In a statement, Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi announced that by Wednesday, the final 2,500 US soldiers will depart Iraqi territory, concluding a 12-year tenure and a two-decade-long US military involvement in Iraq.
The withdrawal aligns with broader US strategies to reduce its military footprint in the Middle East. However, Turkey still maintains a military presence in Iraq, gradually returning a northern base to Baghdad's control. The US-Iraq relationship is expected to transition from a security-focused alliance to a more economic partnership.
Despite Baghdad's initial goal of disarmament of armed groups and militias, several powerful groups, including Kata ib Hezbollah, Harakat al-Nujaba, and Kata ib Sayyid al-Shuhada, have not shown signs of disarming or integrating into Iraq's armed forces. The Kurdish Prime Minister Masrour Barzani has called for protection against missile and drone attacks from Iran, as attacks from Iran-backed groups on US-linked targets in Erbil have surged since the US-Israeli war with Iran began in February.
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