Trump and Iraqi PM announce withdrawal of all US troops from Iraq by end of September

Published Jul 17, 11:39 AM UTC

On July 14, 2026, US President Donald Trump and Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed al-Zaidi met in Washington and announced the withdrawal of the last American soldiers from Iraq by the end of September. Trump stated the troops are no longer needed, but both leaders emphasized that bilateral relations and US industrial investment in Iraq would continue. Prime Minister al-Zaidi urged continued US investment. US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth conditioned further US decisions on Iraq affirming sovereignty and disarming Iran-linked militias. The announcement ends a nearly 25-year US military presence in Iraq, which began with the 2003 invasion. The conflict resulted in nearly 4,500 US deaths and over 30,000 wounded, with costs estimated over one trillion dollars.