By Web Desk
Lahore
The United States has formally concluded its military mission in Iraq, completing the withdrawal of its remaining combat forces and bringing an end to more than two decades of continuous American military operations in the country.
President Donald Trump announced the milestone, characterizing the departure of coalition forces as the successful conclusion of Operation Inherent Resolve—the multinational military campaign launched in 2014 to dismantle the territorial caliphate of ISIS.
Final troop departures and operational transition
The final contingent of American personnel departed from military facilities in Erbil, located in the Kurdistan region of northern Iraq, which had served as the central logistical hub for regional counter-terrorism cooperation.
Defense officials clarified that while active coalition combat missions have terminated, the United States will maintain structured bilateral security cooperation with the federal government of Iraq. This transition includes targeted intelligence sharing, joint counter-terrorism consultations, and equipment maintenance support aimed at preventing militant regrouping.
Iraqi sovereign roadmap and security consolidation
Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi welcomed the conclusion of the foreign military mission as a historic achievement for national sovereignty and institutional maturity.
Following the final drawdown, Prime Minister al-Zaidi unveiled a comprehensive domestic security roadmap designed to integrate remaining armed groups operating outside the direct command of the state under centralized government authority by June 2027. Iraqi military commanders emphasized that national army and federal police units possess the operational capability to secure national borders and defend critical state infrastructure independently.
Geopolitical implications across the Middle East
The departure marks the closing of an expansive military chapter that began with the 2003 invasion of Iraq. Over the course of 23 years, the American presence shaped Middle Eastern geopolitics, international defense policy, and regional alliances.
Regional security analysts note that while the drawdown fulfills longstanding diplomatic agreements between Washington and Baghdad, regional powers will closely monitor the evolving balance of influence across the Persian Gulf and Levant corridors as Iraqi institutions consolidate administrative control.
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