US military on track to complete Iraq withdrawal by September 30

The United States military is on track to complete its withdrawal from Iraq by September 30, marking the end of a continuous U.S. presence that began with the 2003 invasion. Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi and U.S. Central Command leader Admiral Brad Cooper met on Wednesday to affirm this date as the “fixed and final date for ending the military mission of the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS in Iraq and completing the departure of its forces.”

Following an agreement in 2024 to wind down operations against the Islamic State group, U.S. troops had already vacated most Iraqi bases last year, though they remained in the semi-autonomous northern Kurdish region. Kurdish officials noted that a drawdown of military equipment and personnel from Erbil began approximately three weeks ago.

While U.S. officials confirmed the timeline, they did not specify the number of remaining troops or their future redeployment locations. Officials stated that Iraqi security forces, including the Peshmerga, are prepared to lead future counter-terrorism efforts in the region.