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US Ends Iraq Mission After 23 Years: What Withdrawal Means for ISIS, Iran, and Iraq's Security
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News18•01-10-2026, 15:54
US Ends Iraq Mission After 23 Years: What Withdrawal Means for ISIS, Iran, and Iraq's Security
- •The US has completed its military withdrawal from Iraq, formally ending Operation Inherent Resolve, the 12-year mission against ISIS.
- •Final troops and equipment departed Erbil Air Base on September 30, transitioning Iraq to an Iraqi-led security arrangement and a bilateral defense relationship with Washington.
- •Iran and allied Iraqi groups have celebrated the departure as a victory.
- •Concerns persist regarding ISIS sleeper cells, Iran-backed militias, and Iraq’s capacity to secure its territory without a US military presence.
- •The broader counter-ISIS mission will continue from Jordan.
Key Questions Answered
The United States completed its military withdrawal from Iraq on September 30, formally bringing an end to Operation Inherent Resolve and a military presence that began with the 2003 invasion.
The final troops and equipment departed from Erbil Air Base, marking the end of the US-led coalition's military deployment and shifting toward a bilateral defense relationship with Washington.
Following the conclusion of the military mission in Iraq, the wider counter-ISIS mission will continue to operate from bases in Jordan.
