BAGHDAD — The United States has completed its full military withdrawal from Iraq, concluding a nearly quarter-century involvement that began with the 2003 invasion. U.S. Central Command confirmed Wednesday that the last American troops vacated Erbil Air Base in the Kurdistan Region, the final holdout for U.S. forces after they had left the rest of the country earlier in the year.
The departure follows a long and volatile history. U.S. troops initially withdrew in 2011 amid growing Iraqi political opposition, only to return three years later when the Iraqi government requested assistance to combat the Islamic State (ISIS). The militant group had seized approximately one-third of Iraqi territory following the collapse of key army divisions. While the U.S.-led coalition helped defeat ISIS territorially by 2017, the security landscape remains complex.
The anti-ISIS coalition headquarters will now relocate to Jordan as American counterterrorism efforts continue in Syria. At a closed ceremony in Baghdad, Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi declared the start of a “new phase,” emphasizing Iraq’s sovereignty, institutional strength, and balanced partnerships.
Iraqi officials celebrated the milestone, with President Sabah al-Numan, spokesman for the chief of the Iraqi armed forces, telling NPR that the country was transitioning from operating under the coalition’s umbrella to an equal bilateral relationship. Al-Numan stated that Iraq was exploring new defense agreements and considering the purchase of air defense systems from South Korea, Turkey, and the United States to protect against missile and drone threats.
However, the withdrawal has raised concerns among Kurdish leaders, who have historically relied on U.S. protection. Kurdish officials fear increased vulnerability to attacks from Iran and Iran-backed militias. Despite these concerns, Al-Numan assured that the Iraqi military would not leave the Kurdistan region undefended.
Iran has long pressured Baghdad to expel American forces, a demand aligned with the foreign policy goals of U.S. President Donald Trump, who has sought to end engagements he labels as “endless wars.” The removal of Saddam Hussein, a longtime adversary of Iran, in 2003 significantly expanded Iranian influence in Iraqi security, politics, and the economy.
While the U.S. military presence has ended, challenges remain. Iran-backed paramilitary groups continue to operate outside full government control. Prime Minister al-Zaidi had agreed in July to disarm these militias by September 30 but has since requested an extension until next June. Secretary of State Marco Rubio indicated that the U.S. recognizes al-Zaidi’s commitment to the process, though three major militia groups have refused to surrender weapons while they perceive Iraq as vulnerable.
Additionally, Iraq has initiated talks with Turkey regarding the closure of five major Turkish military bases and nearly 100 smaller outposts within Iraqi territory. Both nations announced plans for a gradual Turkish withdrawal from the Bashiqa-Zilkan camp near Mosul.
As Iraq marks this transition, the human cost of the past two decades is being remembered. More than 4,400 U.S. service members were killed during the conflict, while independent estimates place civilian deaths in Iraq at a minimum of 200,000. Yet, in Baghdad and other cities, a semblance of normalcy has returned. Younger Iraqis, who have no memory of the occupation, navigate a landscape of new construction and relative calm, even as they grapple with the economic and social legacy of the war.
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