Key facts
- The US-led coalition fighting Islamic State in Iraq has concluded its mission.
- The last US troops departed an air base in northern Iraq on Wednesday.
- Iraqi leaders are celebrating the withdrawal as a sign of sovereignty.
- Concerns exist that the withdrawal will embolden pro-Iran armed factions.
- The coalition's mission in Iraq began in 2014 to fight Islamic State.
- Islamic State was defeated in Iraq in 2017.
The US-led coalition's mission in Iraq, established in 2014 to combat the Islamic State group, has officially concluded, with the final American troops departing an air base in northern Iraq on Wednesday. Iraqi leaders, including Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi, are hailing the withdrawal as a significant step towards national sovereignty and the strengthening of Iraqi security forces. The mission, which began over a decade ago, saw the defeat of the Islamic State in Iraq by 2017 and in Syria by 2019.
The withdrawal, agreed upon in 2024, comes amid ongoing tensions between the United States and Iran, which have sometimes extended into Iraq through actions by Iran-backed militias. While Baghdad celebrates the end of the coalition's combat role, concerns have been raised by some Iraqis, particularly in the Kurdish region, about the potential for increased influence by pro-Iran factions and the removal of US air defense systems. The Iraqi government has faced challenges in disarming these militias, with a recent deadline for disarmament reportedly pushed to June 2027.