US Military Confirms September 30 Deadline for Full Iraq Withdrawal
US forces are set to leave Iraq by September 30, ending a presence that began with the 2003 invasion.
The United States military has confirmed that all of its forces will be withdrawn from Iraq by September 30, bringing a formal close to a presence that began with the 2003 invasion. The announcement follows a bilateral agreement reached in 2024 to wind down operations against the Islamic State group.
Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi met with Admiral Brad Cooper, head of US Central Command, on Wednesday. Following the talks, al-Zaidi described September 30 as the "fixed and final date" for ending the coalition's military mission in Iraq and completing the departure of all foreign forces.
A US official, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed the timeline but declined to disclose the number of troops still stationed in the country or their planned redeployment destinations. The official noted that Iraqi security forces, including the Peshmerga and other Kurdish regional units, would now take the lead in counter-terrorism operations.
US troops had already vacated bases across most of Iraq last year, but maintained a presence in the semi-autonomous northern Kurdish region. Bases in that area have faced periodic attacks since late February, when the US and Israel launched military action against Iran.
Two Iraqi Kurdish officials said a drawdown of American troops and equipment from Erbil began roughly three weeks ago. They also requested anonymity as they were not authorized to speak publicly.
The American military footprint in Iraq peaked at over 170,000 troops in 2007 during the height of counterinsurgency operations. Combat forces departed in December 2011, but returned in 2014 at the Iraqi government's request after the Islamic State group captured vast territories across Iraq and Syria. Coalition combat operations formally ended in 2021, leaving roughly 2,500 US troops for training and advisory roles.
Prime Minister al-Zaidi has also set a September 30 deadline for non-state armed groups to surrender their weapons, arguing that their justification for carrying arms disappears once foreign troops leave. However, several powerful Iran-backed militias have publicly stated they have no intention of disarming, making it unlikely the government will meet that target.