US Completes Iraq Withdrawal After Two Decades As Baghdad Takes Security Lead
Iraq assumes greater security responsibility as US forces depart.
US forces are set to leave their remaining bases in Iraq by September 30, bringing an end to a military presence that began with the 2003 US-led invasion and continued for more than two decades. The American mission once involved more than 170,000 troops, but the number had fallen to fewer than 200 by July, according to Stars and Stripes. The withdrawal marks a major shift in the US military's role in Iraq.
Around 4,500 US service members were killed during the more than two decades of war, according to Reuters. American forces formally withdrew from Iraq in 2011 but returned in 2014 as part of the international campaign against Islamic State. The United States and Iraq agreed in 2024, during Joe Biden's presidency, to wind down the US-led coalition mission, with Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi describing September 30 as the "fixed and final" withdrawal date, Al Jazeera reported.
The departure is also significant for Iran, which has long maintained close ties with political and armed groups in Iraq. Iran and its allies have welcomed the US withdrawal as a victory, while Iraqi security experts cited by Reuters warned that Tehran and its allied groups could gain greater room to operate. The removal of US bases also ends a key point of military pressure on Iran and eliminates positions that have repeatedly been targeted by Iran-backed groups.
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The withdrawal comes with security concerns for Iraq and the wider region. Iraqi security officials told Reuters that a suspected Islamic State cell was preparing attacks to coincide with the US pullout. Security officials said sleeper-cell activity had been detected for more than two weeks, while residents of Falluja, a former centre of resistance to US forces, have expressed concerns about their safety. The possibility of renewed Islamic State activity remains a key challenge for Iraqi security forces.
After September 30, Iraqi forces are expected to assume primary responsibility for the country's security, while Baghdad and Washington are expected to continue economic and security cooperation. Al-Zaidi has also invited greater US investment in Iraq. However, reports indicate that a small US presence could remain at Harir air base in the Kurdistan Region, meaning the withdrawal may not represent the complete end of all US military personnel in the country.
The change comes at a sensitive time as tensions between the United States and Iran continue to affect the region, with Iraq positioned between the two countries and maintaining relations with both. Baghdad will face the challenge of managing its ties with Washington and Tehran while ensuring that Iraqi security forces can contain threats from Islamic State and other armed groups. The effectiveness of that transition will shape Iraq's security environment after the end of the US-led military mission.
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