Full Breakdown
U.S. Forces Complete Final Withdrawal from Iraq
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The End of the 12-Year Operation Inherent Resolve Mission
On September 30 2026 the United States withdrew the last of its troops and equipment from Erbil Air Base, formally ending Operation Inherent Resolve in Iraq. The pullout concludes a 12-year campaign that began in 2014 to defeat the Islamic State (ISIS) and follows an earlier U.S. exit in 2011 after the 2003 invasion. The departure was carried out under a deal negotiated in 2024 and executed by the Biden administration, with the final hand-over ceremony attended by Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi.
Background & Context
The 2003 U.S.-led invasion toppled Saddam Hussein, igniting a protracted insurgency that later gave rise to ISIS. After ISIS seized roughly one-third of Iraq in 2014, the United States returned with a coalition effort that reclaimed most territory by 2017. Since then, U.S. forces have provided intelligence, air-support, and training to Iraqi security forces while maintaining a presence of about 1,500 personnel in the Kurdish region. The withdrawal occurs amid an ongoing war between the United States and Iran, during which Iran-backed militias have repeatedly fired on U.S. troops.
Data & Statistics
- Civilian deaths in the Iraq war are estimated at at least 200,000 by Iraq Body Count.
- U.S. military fatalities total about 4,500 over more than two decades, the majority occurring between 2003-2011.
- The final U.S. contingent in Iraq numbered roughly 1,500 service members, concentrated in the semi-autonomous Kurdish region.
- ISIS now operates as scattered sleeper cells; the group retains the capacity to launch attacks, as illustrated by a recent killing of two suicide bombers near Kirkuk.
Official Statements & Responses
U.S. Central Command commander Admiral Brad Cooper praised the effort, stating that “the brave people of Iraq” now bear primary responsibility for security while U.S. and coalition forces remain ready to respond to any ISIS threat. The United States will continue to provide limited training and intelligence assistance to Iraqi partners.
On-the-Ground Reports
Militias aligned with Iran celebrated the withdrawal. Kurdish leaders reiterated concerns that without U.S. air-defense assets, the region remains vulnerable to Iranian-backed attacks. The Kurdish regional government has discussed acquiring air-defense systems from South Korea, Turkey, and the United States.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on the timeline for disarming Iran-backed militias. Initial agreements linked the September 30 deadline to militia disarmament, yet Prime Minister al-Zaidi later indicated the deadline has been pushed to June 2027. Estimates of the remaining U.S. force size vary between about 1,500 (NPR, Stripes) and approximately 2,500.
What’s Next
The Combined Joint Task Force-Operation Inherent Resolve has relocated its headquarters to Jordan. Iraqi officials plan to discuss bilateral agreements for continued U.S. support and to explore procurement of air-defense systems for the Kurdish region. The extended militia-disarmament deadline to June 2027 suggests ongoing negotiations between Baghdad and Iran-aligned groups.
