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US Military Completes Withdrawal from Iraq After 12-Year Mission Against ISIS
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News18•30-09-2026, 14:00
US Military Completes Withdrawal from Iraq After 12-Year Mission Against ISIS
- •The US military announced the completion of its troop withdrawal from Iraq, concluding a 12-year mission.
- •Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell confirmed the "orderly departure" of US troops and equipment from their last air base in northern Iraq.
- •This milestone signifies the success of a campaign that defeated ISIS as an organized military threat in Iraq and the broader region.
- •The withdrawal marks a transition from a wartime coalition mission to an Iraqi-led security effort, supported by a bilateral security relationship.
Key Questions Answered
The US military announced on Wednesday, September 30, 2026, that it had completed the full withdrawal of its troops from Iraq.
The complete withdrawal marks the end of a 12-year mission specifically focused on fighting the Islamic State group, and a 23-year military presence overall originating from the 2003 invasion.
The departure marks a transition from a wartime coalition mission to an Iraqi-led security effort supported by a more normal bilateral security relationship.
