What happened
The United States military has withdrawn from Iraq after a 12-year presence in the country. The withdrawal marks the end of the Operation Inherent Resolve mission against the Islamic State.
A statement from U.S. Central Command announced the completion of the withdrawal from Erbil Air Base in northern Iraq. The move is part of a planned transition to a bilateral defense relationship between the U.S. and Iraq, agreed upon in 2024.
President Donald Trump praised the withdrawal, criticizing the decision-making that led to U.S. involvement in Iraq. He also commended the new Iraqi Prime Minister, Ali al-Zaidi, and noted that the U.S. is leaving Iraq with a strengthened security force capable of managing threats independently.
The Operation Inherent Resolve combined joint task force has been relocated to Jordan, where American forces will continue to counter ISIS in Syria. The U.S. Central Command leader, Adm. Brad Cooper, praised the service members and personnel involved in the mission, stating that their efforts have enabled Iraqi security forces to manage threats to their homeland.
