The United States has officially concluded its military mission in Iraq, pulling out the last remaining service members more than two decades after the 2003 invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein and triggered years of violent insurgency and sectarian civil war. The final withdrawal, confirmed by U.S. officials, marks the end of a controversial and costly chapter in American foreign policy that reshaped the Middle East and left deep scars on both nations.
According to reports, approximately 1,500 U.S. service members had remained stationed in Iraq's semi-autonomous Kurdish region in the north following the broader withdrawal from the rest of the country in January. Those troops, initially deployed to advise and assist Kurdish forces in the fight against the Islamic State, have now departed, completing a phased drawdown that had been anticipated for months.
The departure comes 23 years after President George W. Bush ordered the invasion in March 2003, citing the presence of weapons of mass destruction—a claim that was never substantiated. The ensuing conflict claimed the lives of more than 4,400 U.S. service members and hundreds of thousands of Iraqis. It also destabilized the region, created a power vacuum that fueled the rise of extremist groups, and ultimately opened the door to substantial Iranian influence in Iraqi political and military affairs—an outcome the United States had sought to prevent.
In Baghdad, the withdrawal was met with a mixture of relief and apprehension. A billboard in Saadoun Square displayed the Arabic slogan "Reclaiming the decision and building the home," reflecting a nationalist sentiment that Iraq should chart its own course without foreign military presence. Yet many Iraqis worry that the absence of U.S. forces could embolden Iran-aligned militias and weaken the central government's ability to assert control over the country's fragmented security landscape.
The U.S. military's presence in Iraq had already been significantly reduced over the past decade. At its peak in 2007, during the so-called surge, more than 170,000 American troops were deployed across the country. A first withdrawal was completed in December 2011 under the Obama administration, but U.S. forces returned in 2014 at the invitation of the Iraqi government to help combat the Islamic State, which had seized vast swaths of territory in northern and western Iraq.
That second phase of the mission focused on training, advising, and assisting Iraqi security forces, with a smaller combat role. By 2021, the U.S. had shifted to a non-combat advisory role, and in January 2026, the bulk of remaining forces departed from bases outside the Kurdish region. The 1,500 troops in the north had remained to support Kurdish Peshmerga forces and to conduct counterterrorism operations.
The withdrawal occurs against a backdrop of shifting regional dynamics. As the United States signals a smaller military footprint in the Middle East, other powers are positioning themselves to fill the void. Turkey, a NATO ally with its own security concerns, has expressed readiness to step in and play a greater role in northern Iraq and Syria, particularly in areas where Kurdish groups operate. Turkish officials have long viewed certain Kurdish militias as extensions of the PKK, which Ankara designates as a terrorist organization.
Iran, meanwhile, has deepened its ties with Iraqi political parties and militias over the past two decades. Tehran's influence is visible in the composition of Iraq's parliament, in the leadership of several powerful militias, and in the economic sphere. The U.S. withdrawal is likely to accelerate this trend, leaving Iraq more firmly within Iran's sphere of influence—a significant strategic setback for Washington.
The human and financial costs of the U.S. intervention in Iraq have been staggering. The war cost American taxpayers more than $2 trillion, according to various estimates, and left Iraq's infrastructure in ruins. The country still struggles with sectarian tensions, corruption, and a weak central government. The rise of the Islamic State in 2014 was a direct consequence of the post-invasion instability, and the group's genocidal campaign against Yazidis and other minorities remains a painful memory.
For veterans of the conflict, the withdrawal carries profound emotional weight. Many who served in Iraq have grappled with questions about the war's legitimacy and the sacrifices made. Some have argued that the invasion was a strategic blunder that diverted resources from the fight against al-Qaeda and created new threats. Others maintain that the initial mission to remove Saddam was justified but that the subsequent occupation was poorly managed.
The Biden administration, which oversaw the final stages of the drawdown, has framed the withdrawal as part of a broader realignment of U.S. priorities toward great power competition with China and Russia. Officials have emphasized that the United States will maintain a robust diplomatic presence in Baghdad and continue to support Iraq through security cooperation and economic assistance.
However, critics warn that the withdrawal could create a security vacuum. Without U.S. air support and intelligence, Iraqi forces may struggle to contain remaining Islamic State cells, which continue to launch sporadic attacks in rural areas. The Kurdish region, which has enjoyed relative autonomy and stability, could face increased pressure from Baghdad and from neighboring Turkey and Iran.
Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani has sought to balance relations with both Washington and Tehran, but the withdrawal may force his government to lean more heavily on Iran for security and political support. The country's upcoming elections, scheduled for later this year, will be a key test of whether Iraq can maintain a modicum of independence amid competing regional powers.
The departure also raises questions about the future of U.S. counterterrorism operations in the region. With no permanent bases in Iraq, the U.S. will rely on over-the-horizon capabilities and partnerships with countries like Turkey, Jordan, and the Gulf states. Whether that is sufficient to prevent a resurgence of extremist groups remains uncertain.
For the families of the thousands of Americans who died in Iraq, the end of the military mission brings a measure of closure but also lingering grief. The war that began with promises of liberation and democracy ended with a fragile state still grappling with the consequences of foreign intervention. As the last U.S. troops crossed into Kuwait, they left behind a country that is neither fully stable nor fully sovereign, but one that must now navigate its own path in a volatile neighborhood.
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