US military leaves last bases in Iraq
The United States has fully withdrawn its contingent from Iraq, reports the Reuters agency.
American units have definitively left military facilities on Iraqi territory, concluding a years-long presence in the republic. For the region, this marks a new phase in the balance of power, with Baghdad taking responsibility for maintaining order. The official endpoint of this large-scale campaign was September 30, 2026.
The Reuters agency reports that foreign forces have departed from all remaining bases. The US contingent first entered the territory of the Middle Eastern state in the spring of 2003 during an operation against the former authorities. Eight years later, the army left the country but returned in 2014 due to the threat posed by ISIL terrorists.
Over the course of the hostilities, losses on the American side amounted to approximately 4,500 military personnel. Casualties were recorded up until recently: the last soldier died in the summer of 2026 during a drone strike.
The withdrawal schedule was approved by both parties back in 2024, when Washington and Baghdad agreed on the gradual winding down of the coalition structure. According to the agreements, the phase of combating militants within the country concluded in the autumn of 2025, while support for operations in neighboring Syria continued until September 2026.
The departure of the units was endorsed by pro-Iranian armed formations, which declared the completion of the mission as their victory. Tehran also assesses this step as an important achievement for allied forces. Meanwhile, contacts between the US and local authorities continue: the partners are transitioning to consultations and the training of Iraqi security forces.
