Iran-backed militia celebrates completion of US military exit from Iraq
Iran-backed Kataib Hezbollah celebrates US military withdrawal completion from Iraq.
Event / Conflict
US Military Iraq Withdrawal 2026
U.S. military completes full withdrawal from Iraq on September 30, 2026, ending 12-year counterterrorism operation against ISIS. Operation Inherent Resolve headquarters relocates to Jordan while operations continue in Syria. Iraqi government touts withdrawal as affirmation of sovereignty while facing challenges disarming Iran-backed militias. Kurdish region expresses security concerns about loss of U.S. air defenses.
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2026-09-30 to 2026-10-31 · UTC publication dates
Coverage begins 30 Sept, 17:48 UTC
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What happened
Operation Inherent Resolve headquarters relocates to Jordan
The Combined Joint Task Force — Operation Inherent Resolve, which coordinated counter-ISIS operations in Iraq from Erbil Air Base, relocated its headquarters to Jordan following the completion of the Iraq withdrawal. The broader counter-ISIS campaign continues with U.S. and coalition forces maintaining operations in Syria alongside coalition partners and the Syrian government.
US military completes withdrawal of all troops from Iraq
The U.S. military announced the completion of withdrawal of all American troops from Iraq on September 30, 2026, ending a 12-year mission to counter the Islamic State group. The last U.S. troops departed from Erbil Air Base in northern Iraq's semi-autonomous Kurdish region under an agreement between Baghdad and Washington that was finalized in 2024. Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell stated that the withdrawal reflected the success of a 12-year campaign that defeated ISIS as an organized military threat in Iraq and across the region.
U.S.-led mission against ISIS concludes after 12 years in Iraq
The U.S. military mission to counter the Islamic State group in Iraq, which began in 2014 after ISIS captured large territory, has concluded. U.S. troops originally invaded Iraq in 2003 to topple Saddam Hussein and departed in 2011, but returned in 2014 when Iraqi authorities requested international assistance against ISIS. With the extremist group reduced to scattered sleeper cells, Washington and Baghdad agreed in 2024 to wind down the mission.
Iraq proposes June 2027 deadline for militia disarmament
Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi pushed back the deadline for disarming non-state armed groups from September 30, 2026 to June 2027. While a handful of less-influential militias agreed to turn over weapons, powerful Iran-backed groups rejected disarmament or set conditions the government would be unlikely to meet. The government has sought to bring weapons held by non-state groups under government control.
Kurdish region reports over 1,000 drone and missile attacks during US-Iran conflict
The Kurdish regional government's Peshmerga Ministry reported that the Kurdistan Region of Iraq faced more than 1,000 drone and ballistic-missile attacks during the recent U.S.-Iran conflict that began on February 28, 2026. Officials expressed concern about the removal of U.S. air defense systems accompanying the American military withdrawal from the region.
Iran-backed Kataib Hezbollah celebrates US withdrawal from Iraq
Iran-aligned groups in Iraq celebrated the U.S. military withdrawal. Abu Mujahid al-Assaf, a security official with the powerful Kataib Hezbollah militia, characterized the departure as the beginning of full Iraqi sovereignty. He issued a warning to Prime Minister al-Zaidi and the Iraqi government, threatening that any government not working for the benefit of the people would be overthrown by all means.
Iraqi Prime Minister describes withdrawal as transition to sovereignty
Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi presided over the handover ceremony at Erbil Air Base and described the U.S. withdrawal as the beginning of a new phase defined by Iraq's sovereignty, institutional strength, force readiness, unified decision-making, and balanced partnerships. He stated that Iraqi security forces would continue the fight against ISIS and the government would ensure non-state groups no longer hold weapons.
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2 alternative perspectives
Kurdish region absorbs over 1,000 attacks in security vacuum
Kurdish region absorbs 1,000+ attacks as US withdrawal creates security vacuum.
Iraq charts path to sovereignty with militia disarmament timeline
Iraq proposes June 2027 deadline for militia disarmament as part of sovereignty transition following US withdrawal.
Final US troops depart Iraq after twelve-year mission
US completes full military withdrawal from Iraq after twelve years; headquarters moves to Jordan.