Story timeline
U.S. military withdrawal from Iraq
Washington and Baghdad agreed in 2024 to wind down the U.S.-led coalition mission against Islamic State.
Current state
U.S. forces have exited their remaining Iraqi bases, ending the coalition military mission in Iraq and shifting counter-Islamic-State and militia-containment responsibilities more fully onto Iraqi forces and U.S. assets outside the country.
Material developments
No repetition without changeSep 30, 2026 · Story established
U.S. forces leave their remaining Iraqi bases
What changedThe scheduled U.S.-led coalition withdrawal reached its operational endpoint: American forces left their remaining bases in Iraq on September 30.
State establishedU.S. forces have exited their remaining Iraqi bases, ending the coalition military mission in Iraq and shifting counter-Islamic-State and militia-containment responsibilities more fully onto Iraqi forces and U.S. assets outside the country.
Why it mattered. Baghdad now carries more day-to-day security risk with less direct U.S. military support on Iraqi soil, while Washington relies more on forces elsewhere. This is a completed institutional transition, not another statement about an intended deadline.