Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi announced that September 30, 2026, will be the fixed and final date for ending the US-led Global Coalition military mission against ISIS in Iraq and completing the withdrawal of foreign forces [1, 2, 3, 4]. The deadline was reaffirmed during a meeting on August 12 between al-Zaidi and US Central Command Commander General Brad Cooper [1, 2, 3, 4].
The withdrawal will mark the end of a US military presence in Iraq that began with the 2003 invasion [1, 2, 3, 4]. US troops had pulled out of most Iraqi bases by late 2025 but have remained in the semi-autonomous Kurdish region, where their bases have frequently faced attacks [1, 2, 3, 4]. About 2,500 US troops currently remain in Iraq, providing training and counterterrorism support after coalition combat operations against ISIS ended in 2021 when the jihadist group lost most of its territory [2, 3, 4].
Al-Zaidi said, "September 30 will be the fixed and final date for ending the military mission of the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS in Iraq and completing the departure of its forces," and added that "October 1 will mark a new day in the trajectory of the Iraqi state, as Iraq will be free of any foreign military presence" [1]. A US official noted the coalition and Iraqi forces have "achieved tremendous success in defeating ISIS," with Iraqi security forces, including the Peshmerga, now leading counterterror efforts [1].
After the withdrawal, Iraq will have exclusive control over all weapons and there will be no foreign military presence [1, 5, 4]. Future relations between Iraq and the US are expected to focus on economic, development, and security cooperation grounded in mutual respect for Iraq's sovereignty [1, 5, 4].
The Iraqi government has set the September 30 deadline for all non-state armed groups and militias in Iraq to surrender their weapons [2, 3]. However, powerful Iran-backed militias have refused to disarm, casting doubt on whether this requirement will be met [2, 3].
The US began drawing down troops and equipment from Kurdish bases around late July 2026, about three weeks before the August 12 meeting [2]. Iraq and the US first agreed in 2024 to gradually wind down the military mission against ISIS [1, 2, 3, 4]. After completing the withdrawal on September 30, all US-led coalition forces will exit Iraq, ending more than two decades of military involvement.
The withdrawal deadline stands as a firm deadline to complete the troop departure and transfer full security responsibility to Iraqi forces by September 30, 2026 [1, 2, 3, 4].
