America Completes Its Military Withdrawal From Iraq After More Than Two Decades

2026, September 30

Iraq / United States

The United States has completed the withdrawal of its remaining troops from Iraq, ending a major U.S. military presence that began with the 2003 invasion. The final forces left a base in northern Iraq under a 2024 agreement between Baghdad and Washington, marking the end of the U.S.-led 12-year mission against Islamic State as a conventional military campaign.

The departure is being welcomed by Iraq's government and Iran-backed groups as a restoration of Iraqi sovereignty, but it also raises concerns about a potential security vacuum. Kurdish officials and others fear losing U.S. air-defence and intelligence support, while the influence of Iran-aligned militias could increase and Islamic State remnants could exploit weaknesses in Iraqi security.