Iraqi PM and US General Meet as Coalition Mission Nears End

Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi met with Adm. Brad Cooper, head of the U.S. Central Command, in Baghdad on Wednesday to discuss the ongoing withdrawal of international coalition forces. The meeting comes as the U.S. military confirms it remains on track to complete its pullout from Iraq by the end of September.

In a statement released after the talks, al-Zaidi reiterated that September 30 is the "fixed and final date" for concluding the coalition's military mission and completing the withdrawal of its forces. The deadline was originally agreed upon in 2024 between Washington and Baghdad, marking the end of a 23-year U.S. military presence that began with the 2003 invasion and later focused on countering the Islamic State group.

U.S. troops have already vacated bases in most parts of Iraq over the past year, but a contingent remained in the semi-autonomous northern Kurdish region. In recent weeks, those bases have faced periodic attacks, particularly since the U.S. and Israel launched military action against Iran on February 28.

A U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed that the withdrawal is expected to be completed by the September 30 deadline but declined to disclose the number of troops still in Iraq or their redeployment destinations. Two Iraqi Kurdish officials also said that a drawdown of U.S. personnel and equipment from Erbil began roughly three weeks ago, though they were not authorized to speak publicly.