U.S. to withdraw all remaining troops from Iraq by Sept 30

The United States will withdraw all remaining military forces from Iraq by September 30, ending a 23-year military presence that began with the 2003 invasion, American and Iraqi officials announced on Tuesday, July 14, 2026. The decision was confirmed by President Donald Trump and Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi during a meeting at the White House.

President Trump stated that a continued military presence is no longer necessary, arguing that Iraq's security environment has changed. He said the bilateral relationship would now focus on investment and energy, specifically citing Iraq's oil reserves. Prime Minister al-Zaidi, speaking through an interpreter, confirmed that U.S. forces would depart by the end of September and invited increased commercial investment from American companies.

The Pentagon later issued a statement saying the withdrawal reaffirms a 2024 agreement, negotiated during the Biden administration, to end the U.S.-led mission against the Islamic State (IS) group. Under that agreement, the U.S. has been steadily shifting counter-IS responsibilities to Iraqi forces trained by American troops. Many of the approximately 2,500 U.S. troops stationed in Iraq at the...