U.S. military ends mission in Iraq after two-decade presence

The shift in strategy

After more than 20 years of military involvement, the U.S. is officially concluding its mission in Iraq today, September 30. What began with the 2003 invasion to topple Saddam Hussein evolved over the years into a major effort to curb the rise of the Islamic State (ISIS). At the peak of its final iteration, Operation Inherent Resolve, about 2,500 U.S. troops were stationed in the country to provide training, intelligence, and advisory support to local forces.

The current landscape

The decision to pull out was set in motion during the 2024 agreement under the Biden administration, based on the assessment that Iraqi forces were ready to handle counterterrorism operations independently. Pentagon data suggests that ISIS is currently severely degraded, with attacks down 70% since 2023. However, the operational environment has shifted dramatically. U.S. troops often found themselves acting as a counterweight to Iranian influence, turning them into frequent targets for Iran-backed militias. The regional mood has been tense since the U.S. and Iran entered a direct conflict earlier this year.

Unfinished business in Baghdad

While the U.S. mission is wrapping up, Iraq is struggling to manage armed groups operating outside of government control. Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi had initially hoped that the U.S. withdrawal would remove the primary excuse for these militias to remain armed. However, disarmament has hit a wall, with many factions refusing to hand over their weapons. As a result, Baghdad has pushed its timeline for integrating or disarming these groups to June 30, 2027. These militias remain a significant security variable, still possessing drones, missiles, and rockets that have been used in hundreds of attacks on U.S. personnel and facilities.

Why it matters

We are witnessing the end of a massive chapter in American foreign policy. While the goal was to stabilize Iraq and eliminate the ISIS threat, the mission concludes during a period of high friction with Iran, leaving Iraq to navigate its most volatile internal security climate in years.