Washington, 13 August– The United States is on track to withdraw all of its remaining troops from Iraq by September 30, marking the end of a military presence that began with the US-led invasion of the country in 2003. US and Iraqi officials confirmed the withdrawal timeline on Wednesday.
Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi’s office said the September 30 deadline is final. From October 1, Iraq is expected to have no foreign troops stationed on its territory as part of the US-led coalition mission against the Islamic State (IS).
Withdrawal Deadline Confirmed
The timeline was reaffirmed following a meeting between Zaidi and Admiral Brad Cooper, commander of the US Central Command (CENTCOM). The two sides had previously discussed the issue during the Iraqi prime minister’s visit to Washington in mid-July.
Both countries have agreed to focus their relationship on mutual sovereignty and shared interests, with greater emphasis on economic and security cooperation following the end of the coalition’s military mission.
US officials said the withdrawal is proceeding as planned, while equipment and personnel have already begun drawing down from the remaining US presence in northern Iraq.
Two Decades of US Military Presence
The US invasion of Iraq began on March 19, 2003, with the stated aim of overthrowing then-President Saddam Hussein. Hussein was captured later that year and executed on December 30, 2006, following a trial.
Although US forces largely withdrew from Iraq in 2011, Washington returned troops in 2014 after the rapid rise of IS militants in Iraq and Syria. The renewed deployment formed part of the international campaign to defeat the extremist group.
The US-led coalition’s mission in Iraq was subsequently scaled back as Iraqi security forces regained control of territory previously held by IS.
Iraq Says Its Forces Can Handle Security
A US defense official told the Associated Press that the United States, Iraq and coalition partners had achieved significant success in defeating IS.
The official said Iraqi security forces are now capable of confronting the terrorist groups operating in the country, although the exact number of US troops currently stationed in Iraq was not disclosed.
The withdrawal is expected to mark a major shift in US-Iraq relations, with the two countries seeking to maintain cooperation through security, economic and other bilateral ties rather than a continuing US military deployment.
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