The Pentagon confirmed on Wednesday that the last American forces deployed under the anti-ISIL mission have departed Iraq, marking the conclusion of a protracted withdrawal process. Defense Department spokesman Sean Parnell stated that remaining US and international coalition personnel and equipment executed an “orderly departure” from the Erbil Airbase in the semi-autonomous Kurdistan region.
Parnell characterized the exit as the culmination of a 12-year campaign that eliminated ISIS as an organized military threat across the region. He noted the transition signifies a shift from a wartime coalition operation to an Iraqi-led security framework bolstered by standard bilateral ties.
The move fulfills an agreement finalized in 2024 between former US President Joe Biden and former Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani. Although President Donald Trump originally announced plans for a complete pullout in 2020 as part of his pledge to end prolonged conflicts, the final exit strategy was executed under the subsequent administration.
Historically, US troop levels in Iraq peaked at approximately 170,000 in 2007 following the 2003 invasion. Forces withdrew in 2011 but returned in 2015 to combat the rise of ISIL. By late last year, several hundred foreign troops had been consolidated in Erbil following the group’s territorial defeat in 2017.
With the departure, Parnell emphasized that the Iraqi government now bears primary responsibility for addressing residual security threats, including ISIS remnants and Iran-aligned militias. The US Department of War will continue to offer targeted training and intelligence assistance. CENTCOM reported that the task force overseeing anti-ISIL operations has relocated to Jordan, though hundreds of US troops remain stationed in Syria.
Prior to the exit, the Erbil base hosted roughly 1,500 US and coalition forces. Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi welcomed the withdrawal as the start of a new era defined by traditional economic and security partnerships, urging foreign powers to invest in the country.
The withdrawal occurs amidst a complex security landscape. Al-Zaidi is pursuing a plan to disarm powerful militias, including those aligned with Iran, by June 2027. Some experts warn this could trigger internal conflict or renewed US pressure if Iran-backed groups retaliate against American assets. Meanwhile, Kurdish officials have voiced concerns that the exit leaves their region exposed to Iranian attacks and a potential ISIS resurgence.
Despite maintaining that they can secure the nation without a US military footprint, Iraqi government forces face ongoing warnings from officials that ISIL cells operating across Iraq and Syria may intensify their activities in the post-withdrawal environment.
12 years later and they finally admit it’s over. I wonder if Iraq actually feels safer now or just more alone.
So the US can leave but not completely? Strange how ‘partnership’ often still means troops in neighboring countries.