United States to complete troop withdrawal from Iraq by September 30

The US military is pulling out of Iraq for good. All American troops and defense systems will leave the Kurdistan Region by September 30, concluding a presence that began with the 2003 invasion and persisted through the rise and fall of ISIS.

The withdrawal represents the final chapter of a bilateral agreement signed in 2024 between Washington and Baghdad, which formalized the end of the US-led Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS mission. Security responsibilities now rest with Iraqi forces, including the Kurdish Peshmerga fighters who served as key partners throughout the counter-ISIS campaign.

From 170,000 to zero

At the peak of the Iraq War, more than 170,000 US troops were stationed across the country. By the time the counter-ISIS campaign ramped up after 2014, that number had shrunk to roughly 2,500. Now the figure is heading to zero.

The final phase is concentrated in northern Iraq. Harir Air Base, located near the Kurdish capital Erbil, has been a focal point of the remaining US footprint. Reports from early September indicate that troops and military equipment are already moving out of the facility, putting the withdrawal on track to meet its deadline.

Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi reaffirmed the September 30 date during meetings with US officials in August. Other coalition members have already packed up. Germany, among other partners, completed its advisory role ahead of the deadline.

Security concerns linger

Kurdish authorities have voiced concerns about the security vacuum that could follow the departure of US forces. The Peshmerga, while battle-tested against ISIS, have long relied on American intelligence, logistics, and air support.

Regional dynamics have been shaped by the ongoing US-Israel conflict with Iran, which has periodically spilled into Iraqi territory through Iran-backed militia activity. Iraqi officials have pledged to assert control over armed groups operating outside state authority.

What comes next

Iraq sits on some of the world’s largest proven oil reserves, and there is growing anticipation around expanded commercial ties, particularly in oil, gas, and power generation, as the military presence diminishes.

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