The United States will officially conclude its military occupation in Iraq by 30 September, bringing an end to its 23-year military occupation that began with the 2003 invasion. US and Iraqi officials confirmed the timeline, marking the final phase of a long-negotiated transition of security responsibilities to Iraqi forces.
The withdrawal follows months of high-level negotiations between Washington and Baghdad over ending the occupation of the US-led Global Coalition against Daesh. According to Reuters, coalition operations will formally conclude, with both countries transitioning toward a bilateral security partnership centered on military cooperation, intelligence sharing, counterterrorism, and advisory support.
The 2003 US-led invasion overthrew Saddam Hussein’s government and triggered decades of political instability, armed conflict, and institutional restructuring, reshaping Iraq’s internal power dynamics and the wider region.
Iraqi lawmakers and public protestors have intensified demands for the departure of US forces in recent years, particularly following a 2020 parliamentary resolution urging the government to end the foreign troop presence. Successive Iraqi governments have since engaged in negotiations with Washington to establish a clear timetable for ending the coalition’s military occupation.
The withdrawal marks the end of one of the longest US military deployments in West Asia’s modern history, as Iraq prepares to assume greater responsibility for its national security.
