The last US troops left Iraq on Wednesday, ending an American military presence that began with the 2003 invasion and continued for more than two decades. The withdrawal was completed by the 30 September deadline set under a 2024 agreement between Baghdad and Washington.
The pullout marks the end of the US-led coalition mission against the Islamic State group in Iraq and closes a chapter that cost about 4,500 American lives. Iraqi officials say the country is now free of foreign military forces, but analysts warn of security gaps, a potential resurgence of ISIS and growing Iranian influence.
The final US contigent departed from bases in Northern Iraq with most troops redeployed to Jordan and other countries in the region. Military equipment, including air defence systems, was also removed as part of the withdrawal.
Iraq's PM's office said 1Oct would mark a new day in the trajectory of the Iraqi state, with the country free of any foreign military presence. Officials described the move as an essential step towards a new phase of development and prosperity.
The withdrawal follows a 2024 agreement reached during former US president Joe Biden's administration to end the US-led mission against ISIS in Iraq. At the time, about 2,500 American troops were deployed in an advise-and-assist role after the US ended its combat mission in December 2021. US forces had already withdrawn from military facilities within Iraq's federal territory earlier this year, including al-Asad Air Base in Anbar province. The remaining troops were stationed in the Kurdistan region, particularly at the Harir Air Base in Erbil province, until the final deadline.
The 2003 US-led invasion toppled Saddam Hussein's government and installed a Shia-led administration. American troops withdrew in 2011 but returned in 2014 to fight ISIS after the group seized large parts of Iraq. The mission evolved into a training and advisory role after 2021. More than 4,500 US service members died in the Iraq war, making in the deadliest American military operation of the 21st century. The conflict also caused hundreds of thousands of Iraqi deaths and displaced millions of people.
Iran and Iran-aligned militias have welcomed the withdrawal as a victory. Tehran has long opposed the US presence in Iraq and supported armedd groups that carried out attacks on American bases in recent years.
At the same time, ISIS remains a concern. Although the group lost its declared caliphate a decade ago, sleeper cells are still active in parts of Iraq. Iraqi security forces now face the task of containing the threat without direct US military support.
Iraq also faces a seperate deadline to disarm non-state armed groups,a process that has moved slowly. Analysts warn that the combination of the US withdrawal and the continued presence of Iran-backed militias could create security and political challenges for Baghdad.
The end of the US military mission in Iraq closes a turbulent chapter but opens new questions about stability, sovereignty and regional influence. How Baghdad security, militia disarmament and relations with Iran and the US will shape Iraq's future in the coming years.
