Overview
- President Donald Trump and Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al‑Zaidi announced the Sept. 30 withdrawal in a White House meeting, setting a firm deadline for the end of the remaining U.S. military presence.
- The Pentagon said the move reaffirms a 2024 agreement with Baghdad to end the U.S.-led mission against the Islamic State and follows a multiyear drawdown that has left only a small advisory contingent.
- Al‑Zaidi said U.S. companies will continue to operate in Iraq after the troop exit and Trump emphasized expanding commercial ties, particularly with American oil firms.
- Security responsibility has shifted to Iraqi forces since the U.S. returned in 2014 to help fight IS, and U.S. officials say the pullout raises questions about how Baghdad will manage Iran‑aligned militias and regional stability.
- The withdrawal closes a 23-year U.S. campaign that began with the 2003 invasion founded on unproven WMD claims and evolved through high troop levels in 2007 to advisory roles after IS lost territorial control.