The United States has completed the withdrawal of its remaining troops from Iraq, ending a military presence that lasted nearly two decades. The final contingent departed from the base in Erbil, the capital of the Kurdistan region in northern Iraq, marking the conclusion of a sustained U.S. mission initiated in 2003. British forces also pulled out in recent weeks, as their continued deployment depended on U.S. logistical and intelligence support.

The drawdown follows President Joe Biden’s 2024 decision to remove all U.S. troops from Iraq by September 30 of this year. Unlike the rapid and chaotic evacuation of U.S. forces from Afghanistan in 2021, the departure from Iraq was quiet and unopposed, reflecting the Baghdad government’s increased confidence in its own security capabilities. The mission, known as Operation Inherent Resolve, will remain active but will relocate its headquarters to Jordan, where many of the coalition’s roughly 1,500 personnel formerly based in Erbil are expected to transfer.

Operation Inherent Resolve was launched in 2014 to combat Islamic State (ISIS) after the extremist group seized large territories across Iraq and Syria and declared a caliphate. Although ISIS has largely been degraded, its remnants persist in the region. U.S. Central Command commander Admiral Brad Cooper emphasized that while primary responsibility for Iraq’s security now lies with the Iraqi government and security forces, the United States and coalition partners will remain poised to address any new threats. The Royal Air Force will continue missions over Syria targeting ISIS elements, though it remains unclear whether operations over Iraqi airspace will continue.

The U.S. military involvement in Iraq has been fraught with challenges and shifts since the 2003 invasion led by President George W. Bush aimed at toppling Saddam Hussein's regime. Initial intelligence failures and an ensuing al-Qaeda insurgency complicated what was initially declared a swift mission. The rise of ISIS forced renewed U.S. and coalition engagement from 2014 onward, albeit in an advisory and support role rather than direct combat operations.

The long-term commitment entailed significant human costs. Approximately 4,600 U.S. military personnel were killed during the conflict, while estimates of Iraqi civilian casualties range between 187,000 and 211,000. The mission’s complexities were exacerbated by policy decisions such as disbanding Iraq’s army and civil service in the wake of Saddam Hussein’s ouster, which created a security vacuum exploited by insurgent groups.

With U.S. forces now absent, some analysts express concerns over shifting regional dynamics. Jasim al-Bahadli, an Iraqi security analyst, noted that Tehran stands to benefit strategically, as the removal of American troops diminishes one of the main counterweights to Iranian influence in Iraq. Iranian proxy militias, which remain active in the country, may seek to expand their sway over Baghdad’s political and security apparatus.

British officials acknowledged the significance of the withdrawal, highlighting the decade-long training and capacity building provided to Iraqi security forces and Kurdish Peshmerga units. The United Kingdom played a leading role in the coalition through Operation Shader, delivering training in areas such as infantry tactics, weapons maintenance, and bomb threat mitigation. British forces have also conducted thousands of air sorties striking ISIS targets and carried out extensive reconnaissance operations.

While the U.S. and coalition forces have shifted their focus from Iraq, military and political observers remain vigilant about potential threats in the region, noting parallels to Afghanistan’s swift collapse after U.S. forces departed there. The coming months and years will test the Iraqi government’s ability to maintain security and counter insurgent resurgence amid evolving regional complexities.