The United States has completed the withdrawal of its remaining military personnel from Iraq, Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein announced on Monday.
Hussein said the withdrawal was carried out in line with an agreement reached between Baghdad and Washington to end the US-led international coalition’s military mission in the country.
The development came two days ahead of the September 30 deadline previously set for the departure of the remaining US troops and the conclusion of the coalition’s military operations in Iraq.
According to reports, the withdrawal followed the completion of the coalition’s mission to combat the Islamic State group, with Iraq now assuming full responsibility for its internal security.
The Iraqi government is expected to continue security and defence cooperation with the United States through bilateral arrangements, including advisory, training and intelligence-sharing support.
Washington and Baghdad reached an agreement in 2024 to gradually end the US-led military mission against ISIS in Iraq.
The latest withdrawal marks the end of a US military presence that dates back to the 2003 invasion of Iraq. American forces initially left the country in 2011 but returned in 2014 after ISIS seized large territories in Iraq and Syria.
The subsequent US mission focused on helping Iraqi security forces defeat the extremist group and prevent its resurgence.
A US official previously confirmed that Washington planned to complete the withdrawal by September 30, although the official did not disclose the number of troops still stationed in Iraq or their planned destinations.
The official said the US, Iraq and coalition partners had made significant progress in defeating ISIS, adding that Iraqi security forces, including the Peshmerga and other forces in the Kurdistan Region, would take the lead in counter-terrorism operations.
The latest announcement by the Iraqi foreign minister indicates that the remaining US forces have now departed the country ahead of the agreed deadline.
