US troops leave Iraq after 12 years fighting ISIS. What next?
The U.S. military has officially concluded its 12-year mission in Iraq, shifting security responsibilities entirely to Iraqi forces. While the U.S. claims ISIS has been defeated as an organized threat, regional experts express concern over potential power vacuums.
Why it matters
The withdrawal marks a major shift in U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East and leaves Iraq to manage internal security against sleeper cells and Iran-aligned militias.
Hear this story The US military has completed its withdrawal from Iraq, ending a 12-year mission aimed at defeating the Islamic State group (ISIS) and shifting primary responsibility for the country's security to Iraqi forces.
U.S. Central Command said Wednesday that the final US troops and equipment completed an “orderly departure” from Erbil Air Base in northern Iraq. The move formally ends Operation Inherent Resolve's military mission in Iraq under a 2024 agreement between Washington and Baghdad.
The US military said the campaign defeated ISIS as an organized military threat in Iraq. American forces will continue to provide targeted training and intelligence support to Iraqi partners as the two countries move toward a bilateral defense relationship, according to the Department of War.
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