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Iraq PM Announces Complete U.S. Force Withdrawal by Sept. 30, 2026

By Drooid · Sep 29, 2026, 2:50 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Al-Zaidi Orders US Withdrawal

Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi announced the complete U.S. force withdrawal by September 30, 2026.
The United States now has about 2,500 troops in Iraq, down from a 2007 peak of 170,000.
Reuters reported that 4,500 American service members died during two decades of the Iraq war.
Militia disarmament deadline moved from September 30, 2026 to June 2027 amid compliance doubts.
Kurdish officials warned that losing U.S. air defenses and drones could enable ISIS cells to regroup.

Summary

U.S. Firms Sign

U.S. firms signed $60 billion of tentative Iraqi contracts during al-Zaidi’s July visit to Washington.
Gulf investors may pause large-scale Iraqi projects until security guarantees follow the U.S. pullout.
Saudi Arabia’s east-west oil pipeline was struck from Iraq, tightening global oil markets during the conflict.
Militia checkpoints can generate up to $100,000 daily from bribes and tolls, burdening civilian travel.

History

Historical Context

The 2003 U.S.-led invasion of Iraq, launched in March 2003, toppled Saddam Hussein and sparked a prolonged, long regional occupation. The U.S.-led Coalition Provisional Authority oversaw a peak deployment of 170,000 troops in 2007, and the Department of Defense recorded 4,500 combat deaths by 2011. Now Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi’s 2026 pullout echoes the 2007 drawdown, with U.S. troops at 2,500 and $60 billion contracts, while Saudi Arabia watches pipeline security. The historic pattern warns that without robust security guarantees, Iraq risks renewed militia revenue streams and potential ISIS resurgence, threatening regional stability.

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Al-Zaidi Orders US Withdrawal

Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi announced the complete U.S. force withdrawal by September 30, 2026.
The United States now has about 2,500 troops in Iraq, down from a 2007 peak of 170,000.
Reuters reported that 4,500 American service members died during two decades of the Iraq war.
Militia disarmament deadline moved from September 30, 2026 to June 2027 amid compliance doubts.
Kurdish officials warned that losing U.S. air defenses and drones could enable ISIS cells to regroup.

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