US Completes Military Withdrawal From Iraq, Ending 23-Year Presence

The United States has completed the withdrawal of its military forces from Iraq, bringing an end to the American military presence that began with the 2003 invasion of the country.

U.S. Central Command announced on September 30 that American forces and equipment had completed their departure from Erbil Air Base, the final major U.S. military hub in Iraq. The move formally ended the U.S.-led Operation Inherent Resolve mission in Iraq.

The withdrawal marks the end of a U.S. military presence spanning 23 years, although American forces were not continuously deployed throughout that entire period. U.S. troops withdrew from Iraq in 2011 before returning in 2014 after the Iraqi government requested international assistance against the Islamic State group, which had seized large areas of the country.

The final withdrawal was carried out under a 2024 agreement between Washington and Baghdad to end the U.S.-led coalition’s military mission in Iraq and transition toward a bilateral U.S.-Iraq defence relationship. The last American personnel and equipment left Erbil ahead of the September 30 deadline.

The departure means Iraqi security forces now assume primary responsibility for the country’s security. U.S. Central Command said the transition does not end American counterterrorism operations in the region, however. The Combined Joint Task Force-Operation Inherent Resolve remains headquartered in Jordan, while U.S. forces continue counter-ISIS operations in Syria alongside coalition partners and the Syrian government.

The U.S. military presence in Iraq began with the March 2003 invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein’s government. American forces subsequently fought an insurgency, withdrew in 2011 and returned three years later as part of the international campaign against ISIS.

The final departure therefore closes the Iraq chapter of the U.S.-led military campaign while leaving Washington and Baghdad with a new bilateral security relationship. Iraqi officials have described the transition as a step toward greater national responsibility for the country’s security.