Overview
- U.S. forces left their last bases on Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2026, ending a military presence that began with the 2003 invasion and returned in 2014 to fight Islamic State.
- Iraqi leaders hailed the exit as a restoration of sovereignty while Iran and Iran‑aligned militias publicly celebrated the departure as a strategic win.
- Kurdish authorities warned the removal of U.S. air defenses raises vulnerability after more than 1,000 recent drone and ballistic attacks on the region.
- Baghdad has delayed its plan to bring militias under state control, moving the disarmament deadline to June 2027 as powerful pro‑Tehran groups resist.
- Iraqi and U.S. officials warn that reduced U.S. intelligence, aerial surveillance and on‑the‑ground support creates a risk that Islamic State sleeper cells could regroup and mount attacks.