The U.S. military is on track to pull all of its forces out of Iraq by September 30. Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi stated that September 30 is the "fixed and final date for ending the military mission of the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS in Iraq and completing the departure of its forces."

Al-Zaidi made the declaration during a meeting with Adm. Brad Cooper, commander of U.S. Central Command, on Wednesday. A U.S. official confirmed that the United States expects to complete its pullout by the deadline but declined to specify the number of remaining troops or their redeployment locations.

The official noted that "the United States, Iraq and coalition partners have achieved tremendous success in defeating ISIS and now the Iraqi security forces, including the Peshmerga and other Iraqi Kurdistan Region security forces, will lead the fight against terrorists in Iraq."

The departure marks the conclusion of a nearly two-decade presence. The U.S. military presence in Iraq peaked at more than 170,000 troops in 2007 during counterinsurgency operations. By the time of the current withdrawal agreement, the U.S. maintained approximately 2,500 troops in Iraq for training and counter-IS operations.

As the military mission concludes, the Iraqi government has turned its attention to internal security consolidation. Al-Zaidi set a September 30 deadline for non-state armed groups in Iraq to surrender their weapons. Some Iran-backed militias in Iraq have stated they have no intention of giving up their weapons.

Why It Matters

The withdrawal ends the formal military mission of the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS in Iraq, transferring full security responsibility to Iraqi forces. This shift occurs as the Iraqi state seeks to establish a monopoly on force by demanding the disarmament of non-state actors, including militias that have resisted previous integration efforts.

The timeline reflects a long-term strategic realignment that began with the 2024 agreement to wind down operations. The departure of the last foreign troops removes a longstanding point of regional friction while presenting new challenges for Iraqi security forces tasked with maintaining counter-terrorism capabilities independently.

Timeline

The U.S. military presence in Iraq peaked at more than 170,000 troops in 2007 during counterinsurgency operations. The final U.S. combat troops departed Iraq in December 2011. U.S. forces returned to Iraq in 2014 at the invitation of the Iraqi government following the rise of the Islamic State group. Coalition military operations against the Islamic State officially ended in 2021 after the group lost its territorial hold.

Washington and Baghdad agreed in 2024 to wind down U.S.-led operations against the Islamic State group. U.S. troops withdrew from bases in most areas of Iraq in 2025 but maintained a presence in the semi-autonomous northern Kurdish region. Bases in the northern Kurdish region have regularly come under attack since February 28, 2026.

What's New

The official record states that the Global Coalition to Defeat Da’esh will conclude its military mission in Iraq no later than the end of September 2025, according to the Joint Statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Iraq. The official record states that the U.S. military will be out of Iraq by Sept. 30, as stated by Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi during a meeting with President Donald Trump. The official record states that the Pentagon reaffirmed a 2024 agreement with Iraq to end its mission against IS fighters, with many U.S. troops already having departed.

The Iraqi Prime Minister's office stated that October 1 will mark a new day in the trajectory of the Iraqi state, as Iraq will be free of any foreign military presence. The Iraqi Prime Minister's office stated that placing all weapons under exclusive state control represents an essential prerequisite for moving Iraq into a new phase of development and prosperity. Ali al-Zaidi and Brad Cooper stressed that Iraqi-US ties would shift toward economic and security cooperation based on mutual respect for sovereignty and shared interests. PureSource News previously reported: Trump Threatens Troop Withdrawal From Italy And Spain. Earlier coverage on 2026-07-14 reported: US troop withdrawal from Iraq set for September, 30.

How Sources Differ

The Iraqi Prime Minister's Office stated that October 1 will mark a new day in the trajectory of the Iraqi state, as Iraq will be free of any foreign military presence. Ali al-Zaidi set a September 30 deadline for non-state armed groups in Iraq to surrender their weapons.

The official record states that the U.S. military will be out of Iraq by Sept. 30, as stated by Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi during a meeting with President Donald Trump. Ali al-Zaidi set a September 30 deadline for non-state armed groups in Iraq to surrender their weapons.

The Iraqi Prime Minister's Office stated that placing all weapons under exclusive state control represents an essential prerequisite for moving Iraq into a new phase of development and prosperity. Ali al-Zaidi set a September 30 deadline for non-state armed groups in Iraq to surrender their weapons.

Ali al-Zaidi set a September 30 deadline for non-state armed groups in Iraq to surrender their weapons. Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi met with Adm. Brad Cooper, commander of U.S. Central Command, on Wednesday.

Ali al-Zaidi set a September 30 deadline for non-state armed groups in Iraq to surrender their weapons. Ali Falih Kadhim al-Zaidi is an Iraqi banker, businessman, and politician who became the current prime minister of Iraq in 2026.

Ali al-Zaidi set a September 30 deadline for non-state armed groups in Iraq to surrender their weapons. At age 41, Ali al-Zaidi is the youngest prime minister in the history of Iraq.