In a significant step toward ending over two decades of U.S. military intervention in Iraq, the United States and Iraq have reached an agreement for the withdrawal of U.S.-led coalition forces. The plan, expected to see hundreds of troops leaving by September 2025 and the remainder by the end of 2026, marks a turning point that could finally end the ongoing presence of American soldiers in the region.
According to a report by Reuters, which cites multiple unnamed sources within the governments of the U.S., Iraq, and other countries, the withdrawal plan "has been broadly agreed but requires a final go-ahead from both capitals and an announcement date." A senior U.S. official confirmed the agreement, indicating that it's now a matter of timing for the public announcement.
The initial announcement, planned weeks ago, was postponed due to regional escalations, particularly Israel's ongoing assault on Gaza, and to finalize remaining details. Farhad Alaaldin, a foreign affairs adviser to the Iraqi prime minister, stated that technical talks with Washington on the coalition's drawdown had concluded, signaling a shift towards focusing on bilateral relations in various sectors, including military, security, economic, and cultural areas.
The agreement follows Baghdad's initiation of withdrawal talks with Washington six months ago, in the wake of increased rocket and drone attacks on American forces in Iraq and Syria. These attacks were in retaliation for U.S. support of Israeli actions in Gaza and its past atrocities in Iraq. The Iraqi resistance has long pushed for the removal of foreign forces from the country, ever since the U.S.-led coalition's invasion based on false claims of weapons of mass destruction.
Currently, around 2,500 American troops remain in Iraq, with an additional 900 in Syria. The U.S. has maintained its presence despite the Iraqi parliament's 2020 vote to expel U.S. forces following the assassination of Iranian General Qassem Soleimani and Iraqi commander Abu Mahdi Al-Muhandis.
With this agreement, the long-awaited withdrawal of U.S. forces may bring an end to the suffering and loss of life that has plagued both Iraqi civilians and American soldiers for over two decades.
