US-Led Coalition to Withdraw from Iraq in Two Phases, with Final Departure inSeptember 2026
Baghdad, Iraq – After monthsof negotiations, Iraq and the United States have reached an agreement on the phased withdrawal of the US-led multinational coalition from Iraq, according to Iraqi Defense MinisterSabit al-Abassi. The withdrawal will be completed in two phases, with the first phase seeing the coalition forces leaving Baghdad and other central government-controlledareas by September 2025, and the second phase involving the withdrawal of forces stationed in the Kurdish autonomous region in northern Iraq by September 2026.
Al-Abassi confirmed the agreement in an interview with SaudiArabia’s Al-Hadath television channel on September 8, stating that while a final agreement has not yet been signed, it is expected to be finalized in the coming days. He also revealed that US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin had initiallyproposed a three-year withdrawal timeframe, but this was rejected by the Iraqi government.
He [Austin] proposed giving another year (a total of three years), and I refused, al-Abassi said.
The agreement on the withdrawal timeline aligns with previous reports from sources familiar with the negotiations. Reuters,citing multiple sources, reported on September 6 that the US and Iraq had reached an understanding on the withdrawal plan, with hundreds of troops expected to leave by September 2025, and those stationed in the Kurdish region departing by the end of 2026.
The agreement also includes the establishmentof a new advisory relationship between the US and Iraq, which could allow some US troops to remain in Iraq after the withdrawal of the coalition forces. This new relationship would focus on developing cooperation in areas such as military, security, economic, and cultural fields.
The US-led coalition was deployed in Iraqin 2014 to combat the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) after the group seized control of large swathes of territory in Iraq and Syria. The coalition, which included troops from countries like Germany, France, Spain, and Italy, played a key role in the defeat of ISIS in 2017.
The Iraqi government declared victory over ISIS in December 2017, and the group’s last major stronghold in Syria was captured in March 2019. However, ISIS remnants continue to pose a threat in both countries, and the US has maintained a presence in Iraq to assistin counter-terrorism operations.
The withdrawal agreement comes amid heightened tensions in the region following the outbreak of the latest Israeli-Palestinian conflict in October 2023. The conflict has led to increased attacks on US bases in Iraq by pro-Iranian militias, prompting the Iraqi government to seek a resolution to theUS military presence in the country.
The Iraqi government has stressed that it is capable of handling any remaining ISIS threats independently, and the withdrawal agreement reflects a shift towards a more independent security posture for Iraq. The agreement also marks a significant step towards normalizing relations between Iraq and the US after years of conflict.
Thewithdrawal of the US-led coalition from Iraq is a complex process with significant implications for the future of the country and the region. The agreement will be closely watched by regional and international observers as a potential indicator of the future of US involvement in the Middle East.
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