US to pull all troops from Iraq by September 30 after 23 years

The United States will withdraw all of its remaining troops from Iraq by September 30, bringing an end to the US-led military mission in the country more than two decades after American forces invaded to topple Saddam Hussein.

The deadline was confirmed Wednesday (August 12) by the office of Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi following a meeting with Gen. Brad Cooper, commander of US Central Command.

According to a statement from the Iraqi prime minister’s office, September 30 will mark the final day of the military mission of the US-led global coalition against Islamic State (ISIS). From October 1, there will be no foreign military presence in Iraq, the statement said.

The US military presence in Iraq dates back to the 2003 US-led invasion that overthrew Saddam Hussein. Washington and Baghdad agreed in 2024 to gradually wind down the US-led military mission against ISIS and transition toward a broader security and economic partnership.

Zaidi and Cooper reaffirmed the September 30 deadline during Wednesday’s meeting. The Iraqi prime minister had also discussed the issue during a visit to Washington in mid-July.

Following the withdrawal, Iraq-US relations are expected to focus increasingly on economic and security cooperation, with both sides emphasizing mutual respect for sovereignty and shared interests.

A US official told The Associated Press that Washington plans to complete the troop withdrawal by September 30, but did not disclose how many American troops remain in Iraq or where they would be relocated.

Washington has said Iraq, the United States and coalition partners have made significant progress in defeating ISIS. Iraqi security forces, including forces in the autonomous Kurdistan region and the Peshmerga, are expected to take the lead in counterterrorism operations.

Most US troops withdrew from bases across Iraq last year, although some remained in the Kurdistan region. Those positions have come under attack in recent months.