U.S. troops to exit Iraq by Sept. 30, 2026

President Donald Trump and Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al‑Zaidi announced at the White House that U.S. forces will leave Iraq by 30 September 2026, ending a 23‑year deployment that began with the 2003 invasion. The withdrawal follows a 2024 agreement and a gradual reduction of the force, which peaked at more than 170,000 troops in 2007 and was scaled back after the 2011 drawdown and the 2014 fight against ISIS. About 2,500 U.S. personnel remain, mainly as advisors and security staff, and many have already departed since the agreement was reached under the Biden administration. The exit is tied to the disarmament of Iran‑backed militias, which the Iraqi government says must be completed by the same date. While military presence ends, U.S. companies are expected to stay and focus on economic cooperation, especially in the oil sector. The move signals a shift from a security‑centered partnership to a commercial one and may reshape regional dynamics involving the United States, Iraq and Iran‑aligned groups.