Key facts
- US troops have withdrawn from Iraq.
- The withdrawal was agreed in 2024 and carried out by President Trump.
- Iran-aligned militias continue to operate in Iraq.
- US forces provided intelligence, aerial surveillance, and reconnaissance.
- US air defenses protecting Erbil are being withdrawn.
- Baghdad has extended the deadline for state control of militia weapons to June 30, 2027.
US troops have withdrawn from Iraq, a move that was agreed upon in 2024 when then-President Biden determined that Iraqi forces could manage the remaining ISIS threat and that Washington could transition to bilateral training, intelligence sharing, and military assistance. President Trump has now executed this withdrawal amidst a significantly different security environment, characterized by the US being at war with Iran and the continued presence of Iran-aligned militias operating across Iraq.
The departure of American forces means the loss of important on-the-ground capabilities. US troops provided crucial intelligence on militant movements, aerial surveillance, and reconnaissance. Kurdish commanders have indicated that they are also losing US logistical support and drone capabilities. Furthermore, US air defenses that were protecting Erbil are being withdrawn, potentially leaving the Kurdish region more vulnerable to ongoing Iranian missile and drone attacks.