End of an Era: Final U.S. Troops Withdraw from Iraq, Closing Two Decades of Military Presence

BAGHDAD — Bringing down the curtain on more than two decades of continuous military involvement that began with the 2003 invasion, the United States military has completed the withdrawal of its final remaining forces from Iraq.

The departure of the last contingent of approximately 2,500 U.S. service members marks the conclusion of a prolonged chapter that included the initial overthrow of Saddam Hussein’s regime and a subsequent return in 2014 to combat the threat posed by the Islamic State. While the majority of American forces had drawn down in previous years, residual troops had remained stationed across key positions, including in the Kurdish region. The timeline for the ultimate full exit was cemented under prior administration planning and reaffirmed through bilateral coordination.

The historic pullout has drawn diverse regional reactions. The Islamic Resistance in Iraq, an umbrella coalition of Iran-backed armed factions, hailed the departure as a monumental victory for its resistance axis. Meanwhile, foreign policy analysts note that the American exit could alter the regional strategic balance, potentially expanding Iran's sphere of influence, even as Iraq’s Shia-led majority government maintains robust diplomatic and economic ties with both Washington and Tehran.

With the mission officially concluded, bilateral relations are expected to pivot toward broader diplomatic, economic, and non-military cooperation between Baghdad and Washington.