Key facts
- The US military mission in Iraq, Operation Inherent Resolve, has officially ended.
- The withdrawal follows a 12-year campaign against the Islamic State group.
- Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell stated the mission successfully defeated ISIS as an organized military threat.
- Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi described the withdrawal as a transition to Iraq assuming full responsibility for its security.
- Security cooperation with coalition members will continue through technology and digital capabilities.
- Iran-aligned militias retain significant influence in Iraq.
The United States has formally concluded its Operation Inherent Resolve military mission in Iraq, marking the end of over two decades of American involvement in the country. The Pentagon announced the completion of the troop withdrawal on Wednesday, stating that the mission had successfully defeated the Islamic State group as an organized military threat.
Pentagon chief spokesman Sean Parnell noted that the conclusion of the 12-year campaign against ISIS in Iraq reflects the success of the effort. Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi described the withdrawal as a transition to a new phase where Iraq assumes full responsibility for its own security and stability, though he stressed that the fight against terrorism would continue. Security cooperation with coalition members is expected to persist through technological and digital means.
The withdrawal occurs amidst concerns over the influence of powerful Iran-aligned militias in Iraq. Kataib Hezbollah, one such militia, has threatened to overthrow the government if it acts against "the interests of the people" and to target "hostile aircraft" in Iraqi airspace. Another Iran-aligned group, Asa'ib Ahl al-Haq, celebrated the withdrawal as a victory resulting from Iraqi "sacrifices and resistance."
The US military had about 2,500 troops in Iraq in recent years. The campaign against the Islamic State began in 2014, with the group declared militarily defeated in Iraq in 2017. US forces initially withdrew in 2011 but returned in 2014 as ISIS seized territory. The US invasion of Iraq in 2003 toppled Saddam Hussein's government, leading to years of insurgency and sectarian conflict. Approximately 4,500 American service members died in Iraq during these operations.