The United States closed its last major military base in Iraq on Wednesday, formally ending its combat mission there as Baghdad faces pressure to bring Iran-backed militias under state control and prevent Islamic State remnants from regaining ground.
Coalition forces and equipment departed Erbil Air Base as the U.S. and its partners formally concluded Operation Inherent Resolve in Iraq, the Pentagon said. The withdrawal completes a timetable agreed by Washington and Baghdad in 2024 and leaves Iraqi forces with primary responsibility for the country's security.
The departure coincided with a Sept. 30 deadline announced by Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi for Iran-backed militias to surrender their weapons. In July, Zaidi said there would be "no justification for their existence after the 30th of September." But the militias remain armed, and the Wall Street Journal reported that the war between the United States and Iran has strengthened their position.
Militants and Iranian forces carried out more than 600 attacks on U.S. diplomatic and military facilities in Iraq during the first two months of the Iran war. Seven of the 18 U.S. service members killed since President Donald Trump launched Operation Epic Fury alongside Israel in February died in Iraq, Reuters reported.
The Pentagon said the withdrawal shifts Iraq from a wartime coalition mission to an Iraqi-led security effort. Washington will continue providing targeted training and intelligence assistance, but responsibility for confronting ISIS remnants and Iran-aligned militias now rests primarily with Baghdad.
"The end of the international coalition's mission does not mean the end of our battle against terrorism," Zaidi said Wednesday, describing the withdrawal as a transition to Iraq assuming full responsibility for its security.
Some Iraqis celebrated the departure, while others expressed concern about what follows. Iran and allied groups portrayed the withdrawal as a victory, and analysts warned that Iran-backed factions could seek greater influence over Iraqi institutions. Iraqi security officials also remain concerned about Islamic State sleeper cells.
The withdrawal closes another chapter in a U.S. military presence that began with the 2003 invasion. American forces initially left in 2011 but returned in 2014 after Islamic State seized roughly a third of Iraq. More than 4,500 U.S. troops died during the conflict.
