U.S. completes military withdrawal from Iraq after 12-year anti-ISIS mission
The last U.S. troops left Iraq on September 30, mainly from an airbase in Erbil, ending the coalition’s military mission under a 2024 agreement. Iraq now faces concerns about militia influence and Islamic State’s possible return.
By DoomRadar · Published on DoomRadar . Updated .
Event date: The final U.S. troops withdrew from Iraq on September 30, with most departing from an airbase in Erbil. [1][3]
What happened
The final U.S. troops departed Iraq on September 30, mainly from an airbase in Erbil in the semi-autonomous Kurdish region. The departure ended the U.S.-led military mission against Islamic State. [1][3]
References for this detail (2)
- Joy mixed with fear as US forces quit Iraq leaving potential security vacuumaol.com · Article published: Sep 30, 2026, 12:01 AM UTC
- Joy mixed with fear as US forces quit Iraq leaving potential security vacuumasiaone.com · Article published: Oct 1, 2026, 1:20 AM UTC
The withdrawal was agreed by the United States and Iraq in 2024 and carried out under President Donald Trump’s administration. The stated post-withdrawal framework shifts toward a bilateral security relationship. [1][2]
References for this detail (2)
- Joy mixed with fear as US forces quit Iraq leaving potential security vacuumaol.com · Article published: Sep 30, 2026, 12:01 AM UTC
- US Forces Leave Iraq After 12-Year Anti-ISIS Mission As Trump Hails 'Victory'outlookindia.com · Article published: Oct 1, 2026, 2:36 AM UTC
That bilateral relationship is described as potentially involving cooperation in areas such as training and intelligence, rather than the coalition’s previous military mission. [2]
References for this detail (1)
- US Forces Leave Iraq After 12-Year Anti-ISIS Mission As Trump Hails 'Victory'outlookindia.com · Article published: Oct 1, 2026, 2:36 AM UTC
Iraqis reacted with both celebration and concern. The concerns described include greater influence for Iran-backed militias and an opening for Islamic State to rebuild its position. [1][3]
References for this detail (2)
- Joy mixed with fear as US forces quit Iraq leaving potential security vacuumaol.com · Article published: Sep 30, 2026, 12:01 AM UTC
- Joy mixed with fear as US forces quit Iraq leaving potential security vacuumasiaone.com · Article published: Oct 1, 2026, 1:20 AM UTC
Iran views the U.S. pullout as a triumph for its network of allied armed groups across the region, according to the reporting. The departure therefore changes the regional balance as well as the U.S.-Iraq military arrangement. [3]
References for this detail (1)
- Joy mixed with fear as US forces quit Iraq leaving potential security vacuumasiaone.com · Article published: Oct 1, 2026, 1:20 AM UTC
Context from the sources
The U.S. invasion in 2003 toppled Saddam Hussein and was followed by years of upheaval. U.S. forces later returned after Islamic State fighters seized territory and imposed violent rule. [1][3]
What happened before, and what is different now
A documented earlier episode helps explain a possible mechanism. Its outcome does not predict this event.
The earlier episode
The United States previously withdrew from Iraq at the end of 2011, but returned less than three years later after Islamic State fighters seized a third of the country and captured Mosul in 2014. [1][3]
What connects them
Both episodes involve the end of a U.S. military presence in Iraq and raise questions about whether Iraqi forces can contain armed threats without direct U.S. support. [1][2][3]
What is different
The current withdrawal ends a 12-year anti-Islamic State mission under a 2024 U.S.-Iraq agreement, while the earlier departure was followed by a return after Islamic State’s major territorial advances.
What to watch here
The earlier reversal shows that a completed withdrawal does not by itself establish a lasting security outcome; the consequences will depend on Iraq’s ability to manage Islamic State threats and militia power.
Explore the sources and reporting timeline
3 source links · 3 domains
These counts describe the references, not independent confirmations. Different outlets can repeat the same original report.
1 of these links repeat a headline already present, allowing for punctuation and publisher branding. Repeated wording is not additional confirmation.
Source timeline
Oldest to newest among the available source dates, not a chronology of the incident. Article publication dates come from the source; other recorded dates may reflect when a link was found.
- [1] Joy mixed with fear as US forces quit Iraq leaving potential security vacuumaol.comReferenced for: detail 1, detail 2, detail 4
- [3] Joy mixed with fear as US forces quit Iraq leaving potential security vacuumasiaone.comReferenced for: detail 1, detail 4, detail 5
- [2] US Forces Leave Iraq After 12-Year Anti-ISIS Mission As Trump Hails 'Victory'outlookindia.comReferenced for: detail 2, detail 3
Questions answered by the reporting
What U.S. mission has ended?
The withdrawal ended Operation Inherent Resolve’s 12-year military mission against Islamic State in Iraq; the countries are shifting toward a bilateral security relationship involving areas such as training and intelligence cooperation. [2]
What this could mean for you
Civilians and local authorities could face increased armed-group activity or weaker deterrence.
Removing the coalition’s direct military presence may leave Iraqi forces managing Islamic State threats and militia competition with fewer external forces on the ground.
Reported basis: [1][3] · The possible effect is interpretation.
Depends on: Islamic State exploits the transition or Iran-backed militias expand their influence.
Possible time frame: weeks, if those conditions hold.
Security conditions could become less predictable for people living or working in affected Iraqi areas.
A change in the security balance can affect access and movement even if no immediate attack occurs.
Reported basis: [1][3] · The possible effect is interpretation.
Depends on: The withdrawal is followed by renewed violence or contested control.
Possible consequences, not a forecast. Their relevance depends on your location and the conditions above.
For your country
Choose a country to check how this event could affect you.
What changes the outlook
Risk increases if…
A renewed Islamic State territorial advance or major attacks would worsen the security consequences of the transition.
Expansion by Iran-backed militias into areas previously constrained by the coalition presence would increase instability.
Pressure eases if…
Effective Iraqi security operations could limit Islamic State’s ability to exploit the withdrawal.
Continued U.S.-Iraq training and intelligence cooperation could preserve some counterterrorism capacity.
Still unclear
The sources do not establish whether Islamic State has regained territory or launched a new offensive after the withdrawal.
The future size and scope of bilateral U.S.-Iraq training and intelligence cooperation are not specified.],
source_ids—?
Market implications
Market impact
Sources (3)
References for the reported details. Separate links do not necessarily mean independent confirmation.
Available excerpt
By Ahmed Rasheed, Muayad Hameed and Maher Nazeh BAGHDAD, Sept 30 (Reuters) - Iraqis celebrated the departure of US forces after more than two decades…A short excerpt from our source record; open the original for the full article.
Available excerpt
The US has completed its military withdrawal from Iraq, ending the 12-year Operation Inherent Resolve mission against ISIS, while Trump described the departure as a…A short excerpt from our source record; open the original for the full article.
Available excerpt
BAGHDAD - Iraqis celebrated the departure of US forces after more than two decades of war on Wednesday (Sept 30), though many feared that any…A short excerpt from our source record; open the original for the full article.
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