US-led coalition fighting Islamic State ends military mission in Iraq

China News Service, Washington, September 30 (Reporter Chen Mengtong) U.S. Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell issued a statement on September 30, saying that the U.S.-led international coalition forces fighting the extremist organization "Islamic State" officially ended their mission in Iraq that day.

The statement said that the orderly withdrawal of international coalition forces from Erbil Air Base in Iraq marked the "success" of a 12-year operation. It also marked the shift of related operations from wartime coalition military missions to Iraqi-led security operations, supported by more normalized bilateral security relations.

The United States launched the Iraq War in 2003 and withdrew its troops from Iraq at the end of 2011, leaving only a small number of troops stationed. The extremist organization "Islamic State" seized large areas of western and northern Iraq in 2014, and the U.S.-led international coalition to combat "Islamic State" subsequently increased its troops in Iraq.

The Pentagon statement also said that the Iraqi security forces will lead the ongoing operations to maintain Iraq's security and contain the remaining forces of the "Islamic State". The U.S. Department of Defense will continue to provide targeted training and intelligence support to Iraq.

The statement stated that the main responsibility for dealing with Iraq's remaining security challenges has been borne by the Iraqi government. The United States remains committed to counterterrorism operations and will continue to work with Iraq and other partners to ensure that the Islamic State does not resurgence in Iraq.

In September 2024, the Iraqi government and the United States reached an agreement to end the international coalition's military mission in Iraq no later than the end of September 2025. Since then, the two sides have continued to advance troop withdrawal arrangements. In August this year, Iraq reiterated that September 30 is the final deadline for international coalition forces to end their military missions in Iraq and complete their withdrawal. (over)