Washington and Baghdad confirm end of 23-year military presence as ties shift toward economic cooperation
WASHINGTON: The United States will complete the withdrawal of its military forces from Iraq by the end of September, ending a 23-year deployment that began with the 2003 invasion to topple former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein.
US President Donald Trump announced the decision during a White House meeting with Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi, saying Washington no longer believes a permanent military presence is necessary.
“We don’t think we need the military there anymore,” Trump said, adding that future relations between the two countries would focus on economic cooperation, investment and energy development rather than military operations.
Speaking through an interpreter, Prime Minister al-Zaidi confirmed that all remaining US forces would leave Iraq by September 30, while emphasizing that American companies would continue investing in the country.
Mission concludes after security transition
The Pentagon later confirmed that the withdrawal follows a 2024 bilateral agreement between Washington and Baghdad to conclude the US-led mission against the Daesh militant group.
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said a normal bilateral defence partnership depends on maintaining a secure environment free from terrorist threats. American officials noted that many troops had already departed under the phased withdrawal plan, leaving only a limited number of advisers before the final exit.
Over recent years, the United States has gradually transferred responsibility for counterterrorism operations to Iraqi security forces, which received extensive training and support from American and coalition personnel.
Two decades of military involvement
The US invaded Iraq in March 2003 during a campaign justified by claims that Saddam Hussein possessed weapons of mass destruction, allegations that were later proven unfounded.
American troop levels peaked at more than 170,000 personnel in 2007 before gradually declining. Combat forces formally withdrew in 2011, although US troops returned in 2014 at Iraq’s request to help combat the rapid expansion of Daesh.
Following the territorial defeat of the militant group, coalition combat operations officially concluded in 2021, while a limited US military presence remained to advise and train Iraqi forces.
The completion of the withdrawal marks a significant milestone in US-Iraq relations as both governments seek to strengthen cooperation through trade, investment and energy partnerships while transitioning away from a security-focused relationship that has defined ties for more than two decades.
