Officials say US forces on track to complete Iraq pullout by September 30

U.S. military forces are on track to complete their withdrawal from Iraq by September 30, officials confirmed Wednesday. This marks the end of a military presence that began with the 2003 invasion and the start of the Iraq War.

Washington and Baghdad had previously agreed in 2024 to conclude the significantly reduced U.S.-led operations targeting the Islamic State jihadist group within the country. While U.S. troops departed from most Iraqi bases last year, a contingent remained in the semi-autonomous northern Kurdish region, which has faced regular attacks since February 28.

Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi met with Adm. Brad Cooper, commander of U.S. Central Command, on Wednesday. Al-Zaidi stated afterward that September 30 is the "fixed and final date for ending the military mission of the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS in Iraq and completing the departure of its forces." A U.S. official corroborated the planned withdrawal timeline but did not disclose the number of remaining troops or their redeployment locations.

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The United States, Iraq and coalition partners have achieved tremendous success in defeating ISIS and now the Iraqi security forces, including the Peshmerga and other Iraqi Kurdistan Region security forces, will lead the fight against terrorists in Iraq.

"The United States, Iraq and coalition partners have achieved tremendous success in defeating ISIS," the official said. "Now the Iraqi security forces, including the Peshmerga and other Iraqi Kurdistan Region security forces, will lead the fight against terrorists in Iraq." Two Iraqi Kurdish officials indicated that the drawdown of U.S. troops and equipment from Erbil commenced approximately three weeks ago, speaking on condition of anonymity.

The U.S. troop presence in Iraq peaked at over 170,000 in 2007 during the height of counterinsurgency operations. Combat troops fully withdrew in December 2011, but forces returned in 2014 at the Iraqi government's request following the rise of ISIS. Coalition military operations officially concluded in 2021 after ISIS lost its territorial control, with the U.S. maintaining about 2,500 troops for training and counter-ISIS operations. Additionally, Iraq's prime minister has set a September 30 deadline for non-state armed groups to disarm.

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The September 30 is the fixed and final date for ending the military mission of the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS in Iraq and completing the departure of its forces.