US Military Withdrawal from Iraq Marks Security Transition
The final US personnel left the Erbil coalition base, ending the US military presence in Iraq and shifting counter-ISIS cooperation to a bilateral framework.
The last US military personnel departed an Erbil base on September 30, ending the US-led coalition’s 12-year military presence in Iraq. US Central Command said counter-ISIS forces would continue operations from a new headquarters in Jordan alongside regional partners.
Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi marked the transition as Iraq’s Sovereignty Day and said Iraqi forces could manage nationwide security. Kurdistan Region officials, meanwhile, raised concerns about vulnerability to future attacks after the removal of US air-defence assets.
Original reporting: Enabling Peace in Iraq Center ↗