US and Allies Formally Conclude Operation Inherent Resolve in Iraq

MOSCOW, September 30. /TASS/. The Pentagon announced that the United States and its allies have formally concluded Operation Inherent Resolve in Iraq.

TASS has compiled the key details of the decision.

Operation concludes in Iraq

- The United States and our Coalition partners formally concluded Operation Inherent Resolve in Iraq, Chief Pentagon Spokesman Sean Parnell said in a statement.

- According to Parnell, the orderly departure of Coalition forces and equipment from Erbil Air Base marks the successful completion of the military mission that defeated IS [a terrorist organization banned in Russia - TASS] in Iraq.

Ensuring security in Iraq

- According to the statement, the end of the operation marks a transition from a wartime coalition mission to an Iraqi-led security effort.

- The United States reportedly expects that after its operation in Iraq ends on September 30, the country’s authorities will independently ensure security and successfully eradicate the remnants of the terrorist group Islamic State.

- The statement stressed that the primary responsibility for addressing Iraq’s remaining security challenges, including IS remnants and Iran-aligned militias that undermine Iraqi sovereignty and regional stability, now rests with the Government of Iraq.

- The United States reportedly remains committed to counterterrorism and will continue to work with Iraq and its partners to ensure IS can never reestablish itself from Iraqi territory.

Withdrawal of troops

- US forces stationed in the autonomous Kurdistan Region of Iraq began dismantling air defense systems ahead of the final withdrawal of international coalition forces from Iraqi territory, Al Hadath television reported on September 17.

- According to its sources, "US forces began dismantling and relocating their air defense systems from positions in Iraqi Kurdistan."

- It was also reported that US forces "began withdrawing heavy military equipment from the autonomous region" in northern Iraq.

- The same sources said that "at least one convoy of military equipment is withdrawn from Iraqi territory every day" by the international coalition.

Military operation

- In 2014, Washington formed a coalition to fight IS in Iraq and Syria and launched Operation Inherent Resolve.

- In July 2025, then-Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani said that the international coalition would complete its tasks and conclude its mission in September 2026.

- The prime minister said that the Iraqi authorities were negotiating with coalition members to "transition to bilateral security relations."

- On January 5, 2020, parliament adopted a resolution demanding the complete withdrawal of all foreign forces from Iraq.

- In March 2021, the Iraqi authorities said that the number of US troops in the republic did not exceed 2,500.

- On December 22, 2021, the Iraqi Armed Forces General Staff said that the coalition had completed the withdrawal of its units from the country but maintained a presence in the form of military advisers.

- In January 2026, it was announced that the US-led international coalition had withdrawn all units and military advisers from bases in Iraq’s federal territory, with the exception of Iraqi Kurdistan.

- On July 9, Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zeidi said that the international coalition contingent would complete its duties in Iraq on September 30, 2026.

- In mid-July, US President Donald Trump said during a meeting with al-Zeidi in Washington that "the deployment of US troops in Iraq is no longer required."

- The Iraqi government rejected proposals to leave some units of the US-led international coalition in the country after September 30, the date approved by the authorities for the withdrawal of all foreign troops from the Arab republic, Iraqi Cabinet.