What happened
The US military has completed its withdrawal from Iraq, ending a 12-year mission in the country. The withdrawal marks the end of Operation Inherent Resolve in Iraq, with the US-led task force relocating its headquarters to Jordan. The US will continue to provide targeted training and intelligence support to Iraqi forces.
The US had maintained a military presence in Iraq since 2014, when Iraqi authorities sought international assistance as ISIS captured large areas of the country. The majority of US troops departed last year, leaving hundreds of troops in the northern Kurdish region until the final withdrawal.
The withdrawal has drawn mixed reactions in Iraq, with Iran-aligned groups celebrating the US departure and officials in the Kurdish region raising concerns about the loss of American air-defense capabilities. The Iraqi government has said its forces will continue operations against ISIS, while the US remains committed to preventing the group from reconstituting from Iraqi territory.
