The last convoy leaves Erbil
The US military said on Wednesday that it has completed the withdrawal of all American troops from Iraq, closing a mission that began in 2014, when Iraqi authorities asked for help against the Islamic State group.
The final US personnel left Erbil Air Base in northern Iraq under a deal between Baghdad and Washington. A small number of troops will stay behind to protect diplomatic sites. British forces left at the same time, ending the international coalition operation known as Inherent Resolve.
Baghdad calls it Sovereignty Day
Iraq marked the departure with a new national holiday, Sovereignty Day, and a four-day break that began on 30 September. Officials in Baghdad described the end of the mission as proof of the country's growing strength and of its control over its own security.
Iran-backed groups, which had demanded for years that US forces leave, also welcomed the move. Not everyone was pleased. Officials in Iraq's Kurdish region said they are uneasy about the removal of US air defence systems and about what comes next. Many fear that Islamic State could rebuild, and that Iran-linked militias may act more freely without US forces nearby.
What changes, and what does not
The effects may not appear overnight, because the American presence had already been scaled back over several years. Still, the timing has drawn attention across the region, with several governments asking who will now carry out the surveillance and strike missions that Washington used to lead.
One open question is what happens to Iraq's armed militias. Baghdad has promised to bring them under state control, but the deadline for disarmament has already slipped to June 2027. Until that is settled, the country's security picture stays uncertain, and the region will be watching how quickly the quiet holds.