In brief
In a historic drawdown, the last 100 British and American troops departed from Irbil, concluding the UK/US coalition’s 12‑year presence in Iraq. The exit follows a 2014 agreement to defeat Islamic State (IS) and a two‑year plan to withdraw foreign troops. Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al‑Zaidi said the withdrawal marks Iraq’s transition to full responsibility for its security, and four Sovereignty Days will be observed as a national holiday. Despite the coalition’s departure, the US and UK will continue to support Iraqi forces through training and intelligence while the fight against IS remnants continues in Syria and along Iraq’s borders.
The last British and American troops have left Iraq after a military presence of more than a decade in the country.
The exit of the remaining UK military personnel – about 100 – from Irbil, in the northern Kurdistan region, was coordinated with US forces, who also departed on Wednesday. It follows a 2014 agreement between the US and the Iraqi government to withdraw foreign troops by the end of this month.
Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al‑Zaidi said the end of the coalition’s mission marks “Iraq’s transition to a phase in which it assumes full responsibility for its security and stability”. The country will hold four Sovereignty Days as a national holiday to commemorate the withdrawal.
With the departure, the mission of Operation Inherent Resolve ends. The US and UK will continue to train and advise Iraqi forces, while the fight against IS remnants continues in neighboring Syria. Iraqi security remains challenged by Iranian‑backed militias, but the coalition’s exit signals a new chapter focused on Iraqi‑led security cooperation and self‑sufficiency.
