The U.S. military completed its withdrawal from Iraq on September 30, 2026, ending a 12-year mission against the Islamic State group, with President Donald Trump calling it a very expensive excursion into Hell
and Iraqi officials celebrating the move as a step toward sovereignty.
The U.S. military announced the completion of its withdrawal from Iraq on September 30, 2026, marking the end of a 12-year campaign against the Islamic State group. The move, agreed upon in 2024, saw the last American troops leave an air base in northern Iraq under a deal between Baghdad and Washington according to AP News. President Donald Trump hailed the withdrawal as a victory for the U.S., Iraq, and a sign of victory over the Islamic State group,
calling it a very expensive excursion into Hell
in a social media post. The final departure occurred at an air base in Irbil, with Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell describing it as an orderly departure
that reflects the success of a 12-year campaign that defeated ISIS as an organized military threat
per the Baltimore Sun.
Trump’s Reaction and the Withdrawal Narrative
Trump framed the withdrawal as a strategic success, criticizing past decision-making that led to the prolonged conflict. It’s been a long time with very bad decision making that got us involved in this quagmire in the first place,
he said, adding, But soon that part of history will be over.
His comments came amid ongoing tensions with Iran, which has been involved in conflicts with U.S. forces in the region per Yahoo News. Trump also compared the Iraq withdrawal to his recent military actions in Venezuela and the Iran conflict, emphasizing shorter timelines and fewer U.S. casualties. The withdrawal coincided with Trump’s ongoing war with Iran, which analysts have likened to the Iraq conflict for its undefined mission as noted by the Irish Examiner.
Celebrations and Concerns in Iraq
In Baghdad, Iraqi security forces organized large-scale celebrations, with officers flashing victory signs and driving decorated vehicles through the streets as reported by the Stamfordadvocate. The Iraqi government praised the withdrawal as a milestone in the country’s sovereignty, with Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi stating it marked the start of a “new phase” defined by Iraqi-led security efforts. However, Kurdish leaders expressed concerns about the potential resurgence of ISIS and increased attacks from Iran-linked groups, fearing a power vacuum following the U.S. exit according to the Baltimore Sun. Iraqi police vehicles decorated with national flags and ribbons drove in a convoy as officers flashed victory signs, while a billboard depicting slain Iranian commander Qassem Soleimani, Hassan Nasrallah, and Iraqi militia commander Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis sat with religious figures around a fire per the Baltimore Sun.
Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell emphasized the orderly departure
of U.S. troops from Irbil, stating the withdrawal reflects the success of a 12-year campaign that defeated ISIS as an organized military threat
per the Baltimore Sun. He added that the U.S. would continue targeted training and intelligence support
to Iraqi forces, though the long-term security arrangement remains unclear.
Legacy of the 12-Year Mission
The U.S. invasion of Iraq in 2003 aimed to topple Saddam Hussein, with troops departing in 2011 before a smaller mission was re-established in 2014 to combat ISIS. The 2024 agreement to wind down the mission followed the group’s territorial decline, though Iraqi militias and Iran-backed groups continue to pose challenges. The withdrawal has been celebrated by Iran-backed factions but raised alarms among Kurdish communities, who fear instability as U.S. influence wanes as noted by the Irish Examiner.
As Iraq transitions to an Iraqi-led security effort,
the role of U.S. support and the future of Iraqi militias remain uncertain. While the government claims progress in disarming non-state groups, analysts warn that the absence of a clear post-withdrawal strategy could leave the country vulnerable to renewed violence according to AP News.