The US troops withdrawal from Iraq is complete, marking the end of a 12-year US military mission focused on fighting the Islamic State group, also known as ISIS or Daesh.
The Pentagon announced on September 30, 2026, that US troops and equipment had completed an orderly departure from the final base where American forces remained in northern Iraq. The move follows a 2024 agreement between Washington and Baghdad to wind down the coalition mission.
The withdrawal represents a major change in Iraq’s security arrangements. Baghdad has presented the departure as a step toward greater sovereignty, while officials in the Kurdistan Region have raised concerns about the loss of US military capabilities. Iran-backed groups have meanwhile welcomed the US departure.
Table of Contents
1. The US Military Withdrawal From Iraq Is Complete
The Pentagon confirmed that the last US troops left the final Iraqi base where American forces maintained a presence.
Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell said the departure marked the conclusion of the 12-year campaign against ISIS as an organized military threat in Iraq and the region.
The US military says the next phase will involve an Iraqi-led security effort supported by a more normal bilateral relationship. Washington also says it will continue providing targeted training and intelligence support to Iraqi partners.
For the latest official US defense information, readers can follow the US Department of Defense.
2. Why Did US Troops Return to Iraq?
The history of American military involvement in Iraq stretches back more than two decades.
The United States invaded Iraq in 2003 and later withdrew its troops in 2011.
US forces returned in 2014 after ISIS captured large areas of Iraq and posed a major security threat to the Iraqi government and surrounding countries.
The renewed US-led mission focused on supporting Iraqi forces in their campaign against ISIS.
Over time, ISIS lost control of the territory it had captured and was reduced largely to dispersed cells. Washington and Baghdad subsequently agreed in 2024 to wind down the coalition mission.
The Global Coalition Against Daesh provides background on the international campaign against ISIS.
3. Iraq Takes Greater Responsibility for Security
The US troops withdrawal from Iraq shifts greater responsibility for national security toward Iraqi institutions.
Pentagon officials described the change as a move from a wartime coalition mission to an Iraqi-led security effort.
Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi also described the withdrawal as the beginning of a new phase centered on Iraqi sovereignty, stronger institutions and independent decision-making.
Iraqi security forces will therefore have a larger role in:
- Countering ISIS remnants
- Protecting key infrastructure
- Monitoring militant activity
- Responding to attacks
- Maintaining internal security
The transition does not mean that all US-Iraq security cooperation has ended. Instead, the military relationship is moving away from the previous coalition mission toward bilateral cooperation.
4. Kurdish Officials Have Raised Security Concerns
The response to the withdrawal has differed across Iraq.
Officials in the Kurdistan Region have expressed concern about the departure of US forces, particularly the removal of American air-defense systems.
The Kurdish regional government’s Peshmerga Ministry said the region experienced more than 1,000 drone and ballistic-missile attacks during the recent US-Iran conflict. AP reported that Kurdish officials described the absence of replacement air-defense systems as a concern.
The issue highlights the different security priorities within Iraq.
Baghdad has emphasized sovereignty and Iraqi control over security decisions, while Kurdish officials have focused on maintaining defenses against attacks and preventing a resurgence of militant threats.
External resource: Information about the Kurdistan Region can be found through the official Kurdistan Regional Government.
5. Iran-Backed Groups Welcome the Withdrawal
Iran-backed groups in Iraq have publicly celebrated the departure of US forces.
Their statements reflect longstanding opposition to the continued presence of American troops in Iraq.
The withdrawal has therefore been interpreted differently by different Iraqi political and armed groups. Baghdad has framed it as a sovereignty milestone, while Iran-aligned groups have presented the departure as an end to what they describe as foreign military occupation.
At the same time, the future of armed groups inside Iraq remains an unresolved issue.
The Iraqi government had initially connected the September 30 US withdrawal deadline with plans to disarm non-state armed groups. However, powerful militias resisted the effort, and the government later pushed the disarmament deadline to June 2027, according to AP.
6. The ISIS Threat Has Not Completely Disappeared
The end of the US-led mission does not mean that ISIS has ceased to exist.
The group no longer controls the large areas of Iraqi territory that it once held, but scattered cells remain a security concern.
The Pentagon’s transition announcement emphasizes continued cooperation with Iraqi partners, including targeted training and intelligence support.
Iraqi forces will therefore remain responsible for preventing ISIS remnants from rebuilding their operational capabilities.
This will make intelligence gathering, border security and counterterrorism operations important parts of Iraq’s post-withdrawal security strategy.
Readers can follow the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq for information on Iraq’s political and security developments.
What Does the Withdrawal Mean for Iraq?
The immediate impact may be limited because the American military presence had already been significantly reduced.
US forces had withdrawn from bases in most areas of Iraq during the previous year, while a smaller presence remained in the northern Kurdish region. The September 30 departure therefore completed a process that had been underway for months.
For Baghdad, the withdrawal provides an opportunity to emphasize national sovereignty and Iraqi control over security policy.
For Kurdish authorities, the focus is more heavily on whether Iraq and regional security institutions can provide adequate protection against militant and regional threats.
What Happens to US-Iraq Relations?
The end of the military mission does not mean the end of relations between Washington and Baghdad.
The Pentagon says the relationship is moving toward a more normal bilateral security arrangement.
US support can continue through areas such as training, intelligence sharing and other forms of security cooperation.
This distinction is important: the US troops withdrawal from Iraq ends the military presence associated with the coalition mission, but it does not necessarily end all US involvement with Iraqi security institutions.
For broader information about American foreign policy, readers can consult the US Department of State.
Why the Timing Matters
The final withdrawal comes during heightened regional tensions.
The remaining US bases in northern Iraq had faced attacks during the recent conflict involving the United States and Iran. That environment has made the departure particularly significant for Iraqi officials and Kurdish authorities.
The timing also places greater attention on Iraq’s ability to manage several security challenges simultaneously, including ISIS remnants, armed groups and regional tensions.
Reuters reported that the withdrawal has generated both celebration and concern inside Iraq, with questions about whether the country’s security institutions can manage the transition while armed groups remain influential.
What to Watch After the US Withdrawal
Several developments could shape Iraq’s security environment in the coming months:
- Iraqi counter-ISIS operations
- US-Iraq intelligence cooperation
- Security arrangements in the Kurdistan Region
- The future of Iran-aligned armed groups
- Progress toward the June 2027 militia disarmament deadline
- Air-defense capabilities in northern Iraq
- Any changes in ISIS activity
- The effect of wider regional conflicts on Iraqi territory
The significance of the withdrawal will therefore depend not only on the departure itself but also on how Iraq’s security institutions manage the transition.
A New Phase for Iraq
The completion of the US troops withdrawal from Iraq marks an important transition after years of American military involvement.
The US invaded Iraq in 2003, withdrew in 2011 and returned in 2014 as part of the international campaign against ISIS. The final withdrawal now shifts the primary responsibility for security toward Iraqi institutions.
The Pentagon says the change reflects the defeat of ISIS as an organized military threat and a move toward an Iraqi-led security structure.
However, the remaining ISIS threat, the future of armed groups and concerns in the Kurdistan Region mean the security situation will continue to require close monitoring.
Final Takeaway
The US troops withdrawal from Iraq is complete as of September 30, 2026, ending the American military mission that returned to Iraq in 2014 to fight ISIS.
The Pentagon says Iraqi forces will take the lead in security while Washington continues targeted training and intelligence support.
The Iraqi government has presented the withdrawal as a milestone for national sovereignty, while Iran-backed groups have welcomed the departure. Officials in the Kurdistan Region have expressed concerns about security capabilities, particularly after the removal of US air-defense systems.
The next phase will depend on Iraq’s ability to maintain security, counter ISIS remnants, manage armed groups and develop its bilateral relationship with the United States without the previous coalition military presence.
