Iraq Announces Completion of International Coalition Withdrawal by September 30, 2026

The withdrawal of international coalition forces from Iraq is accelerating and is slated for completion by September 30, 2026, Iraqi military spokesman Sabah al-Numan announced Wednesday. This accelerated departure is being conducted in coordination with Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi's office and adheres to an established timetable.

As part of this process, German forces concluded their withdrawal from Erbil in northern Iraq on Wednesday. These troops had been stationed in the region since 2015, primarily engaged in training Iraqi forces and Peshmerga fighters, supporting weapons programs, and conducting aerial reconnaissance as part of the US-led coalition formed in 2014 to combat ISIS. Facilities previously used by the German contingent at Erbil airport will be returned to airport authorities, while other military sites will be transferred to the Peshmerga.

Coalition forces are relocating personnel and equipment via land and air under strict security protocols and official authorizations. Iraq has already completed the initial phase of its plan to end the coalition's mission, which included the withdrawal of U.S. forces from the Ain al-Asad air base in western Anbar province and its subsequent handover to Iraqi control. The second and final phase, extending until September 30, 2026, encompasses continued support for counter-ISIS operations in Syria from Erbil.

Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi has initiated the formation of a committee tasked with defining Iraq's future relationship with coalition member nations post-withdrawal. This future engagement is anticipated to concentrate on areas such as intelligence sharing, information exchange, and collaborative weapons programs. The withdrawal plan aligns with an agreement announced by Baghdad and Washington in September 2024, which outlined a gradual transition from the coalition's military mission to bilateral security partnerships with individual member states, with the entire process scheduled to conclude in September 2026.

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The withdrawal is being carried out in coordination with the office of Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi, the commander in chief of the armed forces, and is proceeding according to an agreed timetable.