U.S. Completes Troop Withdrawal from Iraq After 12-Year Mission
The final U.S. forces are expected to depart Iraq on Wednesday, marking the second time American troops have withdrawn from the country.
The United States is set to complete the withdrawal of its remaining troops from Iraq on Wednesday, concluding a 12-year military presence that began with the fight against the Islamic State (ISIS) militant group. This marks the second instance of a full U.S. military withdrawal from Iraq.
U.S. troops initially departed Iraq in 2011, concluding an eight-year mission that started with the U.S. invasion in 2003. American forces returned in 2014 when ISIS captured significant territory in Syria and northern Iraq, advancing towards Baghdad. Although ISIS was militarily defeated by 2019, the U.S. maintained a presence to prevent the group's resurgence.
The current withdrawal was negotiated by the Biden administration in 2024, and the Trump administration has continued with the plan that set September 30 as the final pullout date. However, the ongoing U.S. conflict with Iran has altered the regional dynamics for both Iraq and the United States since the withdrawal agreement was initially made.
Iraq and Iran share a Shiite cultural heritage, and Iran has provided military support to Shiite militias within Iraq. Concerns remain about Iran's potential to increase its influence and presence in Iraq, and the possibility of ISIS regrouping.
In recent years, approximately 2,500 U.S. troops were stationed in Iraq. Throughout the current year, the U.S. has been consolidating its positions, moving forces into northern Iraq while also quietly reducing its presence in Erbil since the commencement of hostilities with Iran. A minimal U.S. contingent has been present in northern Iraq for some time.
Earlier in the year, the U.S. withdrew its forces from eastern Syria, an action prompted by the Syrian government's actions against U.S.-backed Syrian Kurdish partners. With the impending withdrawal from Iraq, the U.S. will once again cease its military presence in the country, where over two decades U.S. forces sustained approximately 4,500 casualties, with the majority occurring between 2003 and 2011.
