The U.S. military has completed its full withdrawal from Iraq, bringing an end to the 2024 bilateral agreement negotiated between Washington and Baghdad, an Iraqi government official told DPA and BTA. All combat units and logistics support teams have departed the country, according to the official, though the Pentagon has not yet issued formal confirmation of the exit.
U.S. Footprint and Bases Prior to the Exit
Before completing the departure, approximately 2,500 U.S. service members were stationed across Iraq, based on figures provided by the Pentagon. American forces maintained a presence in Erbil within the Kurdish region, at a military facility near the Baghdad airport, and inside the capital’s heavily fortified government district known as the Green Zone. The U.S. and its coalition allies first launched their military campaign against the Islamic State terror group in Iraq and Syria back in 2014, following an official invitation from the Iraqi government after American forces had previously pulled out in 2011. While the extremist group was declared militarily defeated in Iraq in 2017 and in Syria in 2019, small underground cells have remained active and continue to launch sporadic attacks despite losing their territorial caliphate.
Regional Tensions with Iran and Security Shifts
Security conditions inside Iraq deteriorated following the outbreak of the war involving Iran. Over recent years, Washington and Tehran repeatedly clashed on Iraqi soil, bringing both nations close to direct conflict on multiple occasions. Hundreds of attacks targeted American facilities and military personnel in Iraq during the ongoing Iran-U.S. conflict, alongside strikes directed at Kurdish forces. Iran and its aligned regional proxy groups are widely expected to welcome the final departure of U.S. troops. Meanwhile, the Iraqi government’s parallel plan to disarm powerful Iran-linked paramilitary groups and integrate them into official state security forces—announced by Prime Minister Ali аз Зайди—was postponed and is now scheduled to take effect in June of next year.
.jpg/960px-Prime_Minister_of_Ethiopia_Abiy_Ahmed_Ali_(cropped).jpg "US Troops Leave Iraq After Two Decades as Nation Begins Four-Day Celebration")
Official Independence Day Celebrations and Public Holidays
The completion of the U.S. military withdrawal coincides with the official expiration of the timeline agreed upon by both governments. To mark the occasion, a four-day series of official public holidays begins in Iraq, during which all public institutions will remain closed. The government has designated the holiday period as Independence Day. The broader U.S. military footprint in Iraq dates back to the 2003 invasion led by the United States and its allies that overthrew dictator Saddam Hussein, setting off more than two decades of complex geopolitical engagement in the country.
U.S. forces complete withdrawal from Iraq by official deadline
When did U.S. forces complete their withdrawal from Iraq?
The withdrawal was completed by the official deadline agreed upon between Washington and Baghdad, according to an Iraqi government official speaking to DPA and BTA.
How many U.S. troops were stationed in Iraq before the departure?
The Pentagon reported that approximately 2,500 U.S. service members were deployed in Iraq during the final phase of the mission.
Where were American troops primarily located in Iraq?
U.S. forces were stationed in Erbil in the Kurdish region, at a base near the Baghdad airport, and inside the capital’s Green Zone.
What happens to the Iran-linked paramilitary groups in Iraq?
An initiative announced by Prime Minister Ali аз Зайди to disarm these groups and integrate them into Iraq’s security apparatus was delayed and is now planned for June of next year.
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