USA ends military operation against IS in Iraq after more than a decade

The USA has ended its military operation against the terrorist militia “Islamic State” (IS) in Iraq after more than a decade. The United States and its coalition partners have completed the “Inherent Resolve” mission in Iraq, the Pentagon said on Wednesday. Iraq welcomed the troop withdrawal as "the beginning of a new phase." US President Donald Trump spoke of a “victory for the United States”.

Trump's predecessor Joe Biden had already agreed on the withdrawal from Iraq in September 2024. Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said the withdrawal of troops and equipment from Erbil Air Base “marks the successful completion of the military mission that defeated IS in Iraq.”

The US-led military coalition was formed in 2014 after IS captured large parts of Iraq and Syria. The terrorist militia was defeated in Iraq in 2017 and in Syria in 2019. However, coalition forces remained in the region to control the remaining IS fighters. Recently they were only present in the autonomous region of Kurdistan in northern Iraq.

The Iraqi government welcomed the coalition's withdrawal as the beginning of a new chapter and expressed the hope that the pro-Iranian groups had now been deprived of the reason to keep their weapons.

"A new phase has begun, characterized by Iraq's sovereignty, the strength of its institutions, the operational readiness of its armed forces, unity in decision-making and balanced partnerships with its friends," said Prime Minister Ali al-Saidi at a ceremony on Wednesday. From now on, October 1st should be celebrated as Sovereignty Day.

When he took office this year, al-Saidi promised to strengthen the state's arms monopoly and ensure that armed groups hand over their weapons to the state. However, a deadline originally set for September 30th for disarmament was canceled because the negotiations were taking longer.

US President Trump claimed the withdrawal decision initiated by Biden as his own. In his online service Truth Social, he spoke of a “victory for the United States,” for Iraq and a “decisive victory over IS.” He felt “that it was time for America to go home.” During an appearance in Washington, he called Iraq a "swamp."