The United States military has completed its full withdrawal from Iraq after a 12-year mission against the Islamic State group. The broader US military involvement in Iraq began with the 2003 invasion to overthrow Saddam Hussein. That initial operation was followed by years of instability and conflict including the rise of the Islamic State group which seized large parts of the country.
The US military had previously reduced its footprint in Iraq by pulling out of bases in most areas last year while maintaining a small force in the northern Kurdish region according to ABC News. This latest move comes as the US-Iran war and conflict involving Israel have increased regional tensions and spilled into Iraq.
The Iraqi government had initially linked the September 30 withdrawal deadline to the disarmament of non-state armed groups by that date. However Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi has since revised that timeline and said the deadline for militia disarmament is now June 2027.
The US military presence in Iraq also included air defense systems which were part of the broader security framework before the full pullout.
Kurdish officials have expressed concern about the removal of US air defense systems after more than 1,000 drone and ballistic-missile attacks on the region during the recent US-Iran conflict. Security officials from powerful groups like Kataib Hezbollah have responded to the withdrawal by calling it a step toward full sovereignty for Iraq.
The departure marks a major change in US involvement in the region.
The Pentagon said the withdrawal ends the wartime coalition mission while the United States plans to continue supporting Iraq through training and intelligence cooperation. The change places primary responsibility for security inside Iraq on the Iraqi government.