US completes military withdrawal from Iraq with specific security provisions

The United States is completing its military withdrawal from Iraq and the Kurdistan Region by September 30, following an agreement reached with Baghdad in 2024. While official military operations are ending, the U.S. intends to maintain certain capabilities, including intelligence, surveillance, and maintenance for F-16 aircraft and tanks.

To protect diplomatic missions, a limited number of U.S. Marines will remain in Erbil. Although Patriot missile systems have been withdrawn from Erbil, Washington is expected to deploy alternative air defense systems to secure the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad and the Consulate in Erbil due to ongoing threats from Iranian-backed groups.

In a separate security development, Turkey and Iraq have reached a memorandum regarding the Bashika-Zilkan Camp near Mosul. The agreement stipulates a gradual transfer of control of the camp to Iraqi authorities. However, this transition is conditional upon the establishment of central Iraqi authority in the Sinjar region and the removal of illegal armed elements. The camp is expected to continue functioning as a joint logistics and training center for the Turkish and Iraqi militaries to maintain regional security and block terror corridors.