US Military's 12-Year ISIS Mission in Iraq Comes to an End
The withdrawal process of the US military from Iraq has been completed, officially ending the 12-year military mission conducted against ISIS.
The US military has completed the withdrawal process of all its troops from Iraq, ending its 12-year combat mission against the Islamic State group, a development welcomed by both Washington and Baghdad.
Completion of the Withdrawal Process
The US military officially announced that its military presence in Iraq is complete and all personnel have departed the country. The final phase of the withdrawal operation was completed with a shipment carried out from an air base in the north of the country.
Statements from Leaders
United States President Donald Trump stated in a social media assessment that the process was completed in an orderly manner. Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi presided over the handover ceremony and described this step as a new phase for the country's sovereignty.
Pentagon and Regional Details
Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell issued a statement confirming that the departure from the base in Erbil, located in the northern semi-autonomous Kurdish region, was completed in an orderly manner as planned.
Historical Background and Agreement
American forces, which entered Iraq in 2003 to overthrow Saddam Hussein, departed in 2011, but were reinvited in 2014 following the emergence of the ISIS threat. Following the weakening of the group, Washington and the Baghdad administration had decided to end the mission in 2024.