US Israel Iran War Latest News: The US military withdrawal from Iraq is underway, with the remaining American troops in northern Iraq expected to leave by September 30. The pullout will mark the end of the current US-led military mission in Iraq and close a major chapter in the American military presence that began with the 2003 invasion.
Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi has described September 30 as the “fixed and final” date for ending the military mission of the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS in Iraq and completing the withdrawal of its forces. A US official has also confirmed that Washington expects to complete the pullout by the same date. The withdrawal is already in progress. Most US troops have previously left bases in other parts of Iraq, while several hundred personnel remained in the semiautonomous Kurdish region in the north. The remaining forces and military equipment are now being withdrawn as the deadline approaches.
The US exit comes at a particularly sensitive time because Iraq is also facing pressure to bring powerful Iran-backed armed groups under state control. Baghdad has linked the withdrawal with efforts to address militia weapons, but several major factions have rejected the idea of fully disarming. The situation has become even more complicated amid the ongoing US-Israel-Iran conflict. Iran-backed Iraqi militias have targeted US-linked interests during the conflict, while some groups have also coordinated with Yemen’s Houthi rebels in attacks against regional targets.
US Israel Iran War Latest News: When Will the Remaining US Troops Leave Iraq?
The remaining US troops are expected to leave Iraq by September 30, completing the withdrawal agreed upon by Washington and Baghdad. Most of the US military presence outside northern Iraq has already been reduced. The remaining contingent in the Kurdish region is now being withdrawn, with most personnel expected to be redeployed to Jordan and other locations in the region.
Military equipment, including air defence systems, is also being removed from Iraq as part of the pullout. The US military has said that Iraqi security forces, including forces in the Kurdistan region, will take greater responsibility for countering the remaining Islamic State threat after the coalition’s military mission ends.
The US military presence in Iraq dates back to the 2003 invasion that removed Saddam Hussein from power. American combat troops eventually left in 2011, but US forces returned in 2014 after the Islamic State group captured large parts of Iraq and Syria.
Washington and Baghdad agreed in 2024 to wind down the US-led military mission against ISIS. The current withdrawal is the final stage of that process. The departure will bring an end to more than two decades of US military involvement in Iraq, although Washington and Baghdad are expected to maintain broader security and economic ties.
US Israel Iran War Latest News: Why Is the US Pullout Happening Now?
The decision to complete the withdrawal follows the decline of the Islamic State’s territorial control in Iraq. ISIS no longer controls the large areas of territory it once held, although the group continues to exist through scattered cells. Iraqi security forces are expected to take the lead in dealing with the remaining terrorist threat after the US-led coalition mission ends.
The US presence has also become increasingly vulnerable to attacks by Iran-backed Iraqi militias. US forces stationed in northern Iraq have faced repeated attacks during the wider conflict with Iran. The continued presence of American troops has therefore carried security risks even as their original counterterrorism mission has become less significant. The withdrawal is consequently aimed at ending the current military mission while allowing the US-Iraq relationship to move towards a different form of security cooperation.
US Israel Iran War Latest News: What Will Happen to Iran-Backed Iraqi Militias?
A major challenge for Iran-backed Iraqi militias in the wake of US withdrawal looms as an important issue. Baghdad has called for the militias to turn in their arms and bring them under the control of the state, however, powerful militias like Kataib Hezbollah, Harakat al-Nujaba and Kataib Sayyid al-Shuhada have shown resistance to disarmament.
Iraqi analyst Sajad Jiyad said, “There will be no disarming of any groups by the 30th of September,” saying, “I think that’s probably clear to anybody who watches Iraqi politics.” Militia official backed by Iran said, “After setting these conditions, the discussion will revolve around the regulation of weapons, not turning them in.” According to him, “There is absolutely no decision among the factions to turn in weapons, and we have not turned in any weapons.” Instead of disarmament, the government wants the weapons like missiles and long-range aircraft under control of the central government and also its members to be under the PMF and Iraqi army. Al-Numan spokesperson of Iraq stated, “Discussions and dialogues are ongoing, and the file will be settled after the withdrawal of the international coalition forces.”
US Israel Iran War Latest News: What Does the US Withdrawal Mean for Iraq’s Kurds?
The US pullout is also creating concerns in Iraq’s Kurdish region, where American forces and air defence systems have provided an important layer of protection. Although the withdrawal could remove US troops as a direct target, analysts warn that other locations in the Kurdistan region could remain vulnerable. Iran and groups linked to Tehran have previously targeted locations that were not directly connected to US military positions, including energy infrastructure and bases associated with Iranian Kurdish opposition groups. The removal of US air defence capabilities has therefore raised concerns about the region’s security after September 30.
Baghdad has said it is working to strengthen Iraq’s air defence network. Iraqi officials have indicated that the country is seeking additional systems from countries including South Korea, Turkey and the United States. The Iraqi government says the systems will be deployed to protect Iraqi airspace, including the Kurdistan region.
US Israel Iran War Latest News: What Happens After September 30?
The September 30 withdrawal will end the current US-led military mission in Iraq, but it will not necessarily end US-Iraq security cooperation. Washington and Baghdad are expected to continue working together through a different bilateral framework focused on security, defence and economic relations. For Iraq, the immediate challenge will be managing the security gap created by the departure of the remaining US forces while dealing with ISIS sleeper cells, powerful armed factions and threats linked to the wider regional conflict. The government also faces the difficult task of bringing Iran-backed militias under state authority without triggering a major political or security confrontation.
For the US, the withdrawal reduces the risks faced by American troops in Iraq while allowing Washington to maintain relationships with Baghdad and other regional partners. As the September 30 deadline approaches, the focus will therefore shift from the physical departure of US troops to the security and political situation that follows their exit.
