The Pentagon says the last U.S. troops left Iraq on Wednesday, closing a 12-year anti-ISIS mission and a 23-year military era in that country.
Story Snapshot
- The Pentagon declared an orderly, planned withdrawal tied to a Baghdad-Washington deal.
- The final departure point was Erbil Air Base in northern Iraq.
- Operation Inherent Resolve in Iraq formally ended as Iraqi forces take the lead.
- Major outlets reported completion on Wednesday, aligning on timing and framing.
What Ended, Where It Ended, And Why It Matters
The U.S. military announced it completed the withdrawal of all American troops from Iraq, marking the formal end of Operation Inherent Resolve in the country.
The Pentagon described the exit as an orderly, mission-ending departure that followed an agreed plan with Baghdad, not a surprise exit.
The final troops and equipment left from Erbil Air Base in the north, closing the last chapter of the coalition footprint there. The Pentagon framed the milestone as the successful close of a 12-year campaign against the Islamic State group.
US troops WITHDRAW from Iraq as 23-year military presence NEARS END
Withdrawal set to be completed by SEPTEMBER 30 pic.twitter.com/W33Np2IDRj
— RT (@RT_com) September 29, 2026
Public reporting across established outlets matched on the core details and the date. Stars and Stripes, wire services, and regional coverage noted the same Wednesday completion and the tie to the prior Washington-Baghdad framework.
Defense officials said the mission’s purpose was met in Iraq: break the Islamic State group as an organized military threat and hand security primacy back to Iraqi forces. The Pentagon’s message stressed finish, not flight, and a planned transition that had been underway since 2024.
How The Plan Unwound From 2024 To Wheels-Up
The pullout capped a phased drawdown that moved from combat to advise-and-assist, then to site closures, and finally to departure. Reports traced the force over recent years from several thousand advisors to a small remaining contingent before exit.
The Pentagon said Iraqi Security Forces now lead the counter-ISIS effort inside their borders. That shift aligns with the coalition’s long-stated goal: enable locals to secure their own ground against any ISIS remnants. The location choice—Erbil—fit the mission’s closing logistics lane.
The Pentagon tied the calendar and the finish line to a standing agreement with Iraq’s government. Outlets described the departure as consistent with a September 2024 joint approach and a bilateral deal that paced the drawdown. That matters for sovereignty and stability.
It shows Iraq called time on a foreign military mission while accepting the handoff duties that follow. It also shows the United States kept faith with a declared end state instead of sliding into an open-ended presence.
What Changes On The Ground Now
Iraqi forces carry the load against ISIS cells and criminal networks that feed on weak seams. The coalition flag has come down, which adjusts who plans, who pays, and who answers for day-to-day security outcomes.
That fits common sense: missions need a finish line, partners need ownership, and American troops should not linger when a core task is done. If Baghdad wants calm, it must hold militias to the law and keep pressure on jihadist holdouts.
Regional players will test the gap left by a U.S. military exit. Reuters reported concern that Iran-aligned militias could seek more sway, while some Kurdish voices worried about a thinner deterrent in the north.
Those risks are real, but they do not erase the central fact of the day: the United States ended its Iraq mission under a plan and on schedule. The measure of success now moves from American brigades to Iraqi battalions, budgets, and political will.
Sources:
reuters.com, twincities.com, bostonglobe.com, stripes.com
