Iraq Announces Full US Military Pullout Ahead of Schedule

Iraq's Foreign Minister, Fawad Hussein, announced on Monday that the United States had concluded the pullout of its military personnel from Iraqi soil. According to Hussein, the complete departure of American forces from Iraq adhered to a prior accord established between the governments in Baghdad and Washington.

This declaration came two days ahead of the original September 30 deadline, which was set for the final contingent of US troops to leave and for the US-led international coalition's military operations in Iraq to cease. A report from Safir, a Middle Eastern news source, indicated that the withdrawal occurred after the successful completion of the international military mission in Iraq, spearheaded by the US.

The Safir report further stated, "The withdrawal of American forces has taken place while the Iraqi government is trying to transfer full security responsibility to Iraqi forces after the end of the coalition’s military presence and continue security and defense cooperation within the framework of bilateral relations."

Both the United States and Iraq had previously reached an agreement in 2024 to gradually conclude the American-led military campaign against the Islamic State group. In August, the Associated Press disclosed that the American military was progressing towards removing all its personnel from Iraq by the close of September, thereby concluding a deployment that commenced with the 2003 invasion.

The AP report cited Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi, who had confirmed September 30 as the “fixed and final date for ending the military mission of the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS in Iraq and completing the departure of its forces.” A US official, speaking to AP then, also verified that Washington anticipated finalising its withdrawal by September 30, though the official declined to disclose the number of remaining troops or their planned redeployment locations.

The same US official stated, "The United States, Iraq and coalition partners have achieved tremendous success in defeating ISIS and now the Iraqi security forces, including the Peshmerga and other Iraqi Kurdistan Region security forces, will lead the fight against terr*rists in Iraq."

Earlier on Monday, The National newspaper had reported that the departure of US forces from Iraq was still slated for Wednesday, with the “withdrawal expected to transition into a bilateral advisory, training and intelligence-sharing relationship between Washington and Baghdad.” This latest withdrawal marks the definitive end of the American military presence in Iraq, which originally began with the invasion in 2003.

While US forces initially departed Iraq in 2011, they redeployed in 2014 following the territorial expansion of the Islamic State group. Their subsequent mission was primarily aimed at combating the group and providing assistance to Iraqi security forces. Hussein's recent announcement confirms that the remaining American military personnel have now exited Iraqi territory, preceding the previously stipulated September 30 deadline.