Major U.S. Withdrawal from Iraq Marks End of Operation Inherent Resolve
U.S. officials have announced the completion of the withdrawal of American forces from Iraq, signifying the end of Operation Inherent Resolve.
This withdrawal, finalized on Wednesday, represents the conclusion of a mission that has lasted over a decade, aimed at countering ISIS in the region.
“Today, I am pleased to announce that the last American forces are leaving Iraq! It has been a long time, with very bad decision-making that got us involved in this quagmire, but soon, that will be history,” President Donald Trump shared on Truth Social.
The U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) noted that this withdrawal is a step toward establishing a “bilateral defense relationship” between the U.S. and Iraq, while the Combined Joint Task Force-Operation Inherent Resolve (CJTF-OIR) will continue to conduct operations against ISIS in Syria.
According to the CJTF-OIR, the coalition has been supporting and advising local forces in their efforts to independently defeat ISIS in both Iraq and Syria.
“Job well done to the tens of thousands of American service members, diplomats, and civilian personnel who answered the call in Iraq,” remarked Admiral Brad Cooper, the CENTCOM commander.
“Thanks to your grit and sacrifice, ISIS no longer poses a systemic threat to Iraq’s national security, and Iraqi security forces—including the Peshmerga—are now equipped to manage threats independently,” he added.
With the command now based in Jordan, the CJTF-OIR will collaborate with Coalition partners as well as the Syrian government in continuing their mission against terrorism.
The U.S. and Coalition forces began their gradual withdrawal from Iraq in October 2025, following a joint statement from 2024.
“This milestone reflects the success of a 12-year campaign that defeated ISIS as an organized military threat in Iraq and the region,” noted Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell.
“Additionally, it marks a shift from a wartime coalition to an Iraqi-led security initiative supported by a more standard bilateral relationship,” he stated.
The U.S. had previously ended Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2010, having initiated it in 2003 to remove Saddam Hussein from power, with the last troops returning home in 2011. However, in response to requests from the Iraqi government, U.S. forces were redeployed in 2014 to combat ISIS.
Erbil Air Base was the primary hub for the CJTF-OIR, hosting around 1,500 U.S. and Coalition personnel engaged in anti-ISIS efforts.
“Launched in 2003 under President George W. Bush and continued under Barack Obama in 2014 and Joe Biden, Operation Inherent Resolve comes to an end in 2026 under President Donald J. Trump,” the president stated.
“This day represents a victory for the United States, for Iraq, and a significant defeat for ISIS, which has been nearly eradicated during my administration,” he emphasized.
Trump also expressed his views on the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan under Biden, highlighting the differences with Iraq’s “orderly departure.”
“Unlike Afghanistan, where military equipment was left behind and lives were lost, this orderly departure from Erbil Air Base marks the end of a very costly venture,” Trump commented.
“I set clear goals and provided our commanders with the necessary tools, ensuring that our presence would not become permanent,” he further noted.
Additionally, he praised the newly elected Iraqi Prime Minister, Ali al-Zaidi, indicating his support for the leadership change.
“I had a choice to stay or go, and I believed it was time for America to come home,” Trump said. “Prime Minister al-Zaidi is exceptional, and I trust he will manage the situation well. We came to fight a caliphate, and that caliphate is no more. We are going home!”
Cooper mentioned that while U.S. forces step back, they will remain vigilant against any potential ISIS threats in the region.
“As we transition responsibility for Iraq’s security fully to its government and its people, U.S. and Coalition forces will be prepared to respond to any ISIS threats that may arise,” he affirmed.
Parnell emphasized the future of the U.S.-Iraq relationship, reaffirming Iraq’s responsibility for its own security.
“The United States supports a robust sovereign Iraq, one that protects its borders and its citizens, and serves as the foundation for deeper cooperation between our nations,” he stated.
