Iraq confirms total U.S.-led coalition troop withdrawal by September 2026

The Iraqi government has confirmed that September 30, 2026, is the final and immovable deadline for the total withdrawal of the U.S.-led coalition forces from Iraq. Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi has rejected proposals to allow any coalition troops to remain in the country beyond this date.

This decision marks the end of a 23-year military presence that began with the 2003 invasion. While previous discussions had suggested a potential partial reduction of forces, the Iraqi Prime Minister’s office emphasized that the departure is a fixed commitment agreed upon between the Iraqi government and the United States.

Government spokesperson Haider al-Aboudi stated that Iraq intends to avoid being drawn into regional conflicts. Meanwhile, the Iraqi Ministry of Defense confirmed that the withdrawal follows a pre-agreed timeline between Baghdad and the international coalition.