Operation Inherent Resolve (OIR) in Iraq came to a formal close on 30 Sep 2026 with the formal closing of the last American military base in country at Erbil in the Kurdish north of Iraq. The US military will now cease to have a presence in Iraq after more than two decades of continuous presence.
In a statement released by the Pentagon earlier today, they acknowledged the closure of all US military bases in Iraq. As the last remaining military base in Iraq was to be shut down today, the US will continue to provide specialized training and intelligence support under a bilateral agreement with the Government of Iraq.
"October 1 will be a new day for the Iraqi state, where it is free from any foreign military presence and completes its national sovereignty over its land," Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi said in a statement. He declared four public holidays across the country to celebrate the date as "Independence Day".
The withdrawal was agreed to under a 2024 Framework for Cooperation between the US and Iraq, that among other things required Iraq to disarm Iran-backed militias. That deadline has since been extended to June 30, 2027, but the US will be withdrawing before that date is reached. Instead they will be leaving behind a country where Kataeb Hezbollah can celebrate their departure while issuing threats to the country's civil government.
The Erbil-based Kurdish Regional Government expressed concern about the withdrawal of American forces citing the removal of air defense systems and radar coverage that safeguarded the region from ISIS attacks. The KRG now has to rely on the air power of the Iraqi federal government which, according to the analysts, will not be able to counter the regional threats from drones and missiles.
The withdrawal also follows a drawdown of troops in Syria in 2026. The US had been fighting Iran-backed militias in Iraq, who are waging war against Tehran. While the conflict has been ongoing in the region, many US-led coalition troops had been stationed in Iraq as a deterrent to Iranian influence. That forward presence had also served as intelligence collection platforms for the US military. Remaining coalition troops are slated to withdraw and reposition to countries including Jordan.
For the United States, this brings an end to over 19 years of military operations in Iraq. After initially invading the country in 2003, U.S. forces withdrew in 2011. However, following the 2014 request from the Iraqi government for assistance in combating ISIS, the U.S. returned to fight against the terrorist organization and, in the end, assist the country in its transition to sovereignty.
