Iraqi PM, Pentagon: US military to fully withdraw from Iraq by end of September 2026

Published Jul 15, 02:05 AM UTC

The U.S. military will withdraw from Iraq by the end of September 2026, ending a 23-year presence that began with the 2003 invasion. The announcement was made jointly by U.S. President Donald Trump and Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi at the White House on July 14, 2026. The Pentagon confirmed it was reaffirming a 2024 agreement with Iraq to end the mission against Islamic State fighters. Trump stated the U.S. no longer needs a military presence in Iraq, noting growing relationships with oil companies. The U.S. presence peaked at over 170,000 troops in 2007 during counterinsurgency operations. After the 2011 withdrawal, U.S. forces returned in 2014 to combat the Islamic State. Following the IS territorial defeat in 2021, about 2,500 troops remained for training and counter-IS operations. Most have already departed under the 2024 agreement, leaving only a small contingent of military advisers.