Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi declared on Wednesday that September 30 represents a fixed and final date for the withdrawal of US-led coalition forces from Iraq. The announcement came following his meeting with US Central Command Commander General Brad Cooper. Al-Zaidi’s office stated that October 1 would commence a new chapter for Iraq as a state free from foreign military presence.
The withdrawal agreement was reached during al-Zaidi’s visit to Washington, DC, earlier in the month. Both leaders emphasized that bilateral relations would transition toward economic and security cooperation based on mutual respect for sovereignty and shared interests. The Iraqi prime minister’s office noted that consolidating all weapons under exclusive state control is essential for advancing Iraq into a new developmental phase.
The current military mission centers on operations against the ISIL armed group. Washington and Baghdad finalized terms in 2024 to wind down the significantly reduced US-led operations targeting this organization. A US official confirmed the expectation that the pullout would be completed by the September 30 deadline, though the official declined to specify troop numbers or redeployment locations. The official stated that Iraqi security forces, including the Peshmerga and other Kurdish region units, would assume responsibility for combating terrorist threats.
US military involvement in Iraq spans multiple decades, beginning with the 2003 invasion. American troop presence peaked at over 170,000 during counterinsurgency operations in 2007. Following the departure of final combat troops in December 2011, the rise of ISIL in 2014 prompted the US military’s return at Baghdad’s request. After the group lost territorial control, coalition military operations concluded in 2021. US forces have maintained bases primarily in Iraq’s semi-autonomous northern Kurdish region, which have experienced regular attacks since late February.
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