US Forces Formally Withdraw From Iraq After Two-Decade Presence
- forces formally withdrew from Iraq on Wednesday, September 30, 2026, ending a two-decade military presence that began with the 2003 invasion toppling dictator Saddam Hussein and leaves behind...
- The military exit follows two distinct phases of American involvement that defined modern Iraqi history.
- While the Iraqi military has grown stronger over 23 years of international training, officials note critical gaps remain in intelligence, surveillance, and air support capabilities that proved vital...
U.S. forces formally withdrew from Iraq on Wednesday, September 30, 2026, ending a two-decade military presence that began with the 2003 invasion toppling dictator Saddam Hussein and leaves behind a nation trying to break free from its powerful allies. Erika Solomon and Falih Hassan reported from Baghdad, and Eric Schmitt from Washington for The Times that the final departure under Operation Inherent Resolve removes the last of the 2,500 U.S. troops stationed in the country this year.
Operation Inherent Resolve Concludes as Troops Exit Iraq
The military exit follows two distinct phases of American involvement that defined modern Iraqi history. Following the 2003 overthrow of Saddam Hussein, the initial occupation ended in 2011 amidst severe sectarian bloodletting and insurgencies that claimed nearly 4,500 U.S. lives and more than 115,000 Iraqi lives based on modest counts reported by The Times. American forces returned three years later to spearhead the multinational coalition against the Islamic State, the jihadist organization that seized vast territories across Iraq and Syria. NPR’s Jane Arraf reported that the 2014 coalition formed after ISIS captured roughly a third of Iraqi territory and Iraqi army divisions collapsed due to corruption and sectarianism. Unlike the 2011 departure, Central Command announced that Wednesday’s final drawdown featured no press-accessible ceremonies or public fanfare. With only a few hundred of the year’s 2,500 troops remaining in the final days, Central Command executed a quiet withdrawal. Physical remnants of the multi-decade conflict are disappearing across the capital as blast walls come down while malls and restaurants operate in a normalizing city.
Security Vulnerabilities and Regional Pressures
While the Iraqi military has grown stronger over 23 years of international training, officials note critical gaps remain in intelligence, surveillance, and air support capabilities that proved vital during the 2017 territorial defeat of ISIS. NPR reported that the Kurdistan region of Iraq feels particularly vulnerable, with Kurdish leaders citing nearly a thousand incoming drones and missiles from Iran and Iran-backed militias while lacking adequate air defense systems. Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi faced a September 30, 2026 deadline to disarm Iran-backed militias and bring all weapons under control of the state. While the political newcomer promised President Trump during a July White House visit that the militias would be disarmed by the deadline, al-Zaidi later stated he requires until mid-next year. NPR reported that Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressed confidence in the prime minister’s intentions during remarks, indicating Washington plans to support the administration despite the difficulty of the objective.