In brief
The last coalition forces have flown out of Iraqi Kurdistan, marking the end of a 12‑year presence that began in 2014. Prime Minister Al‑Zaidi said Iraq will now take full responsibility for its security and will observe four Sovereignty Days. The withdrawal follows a two‑year agreement and has been hailed by the UK Ministry of Defence as the conclusion of the mission that defeated ISIS. Yet the region’s volatility remains, with Iran‑aligned militias still posing a challenge to the newly empowered Iraqi security forces. The U.S. will continue to provide training and intelligence support from Jordan while Iraq and its partners focus on long‑term stability.
The last of the coalition’s presence in Iraq has finally ended, as the final group of about 100 British soldiers ferried out of Irbil in the north, with U.S. forces following suit on the same day. The withdrawal was carried out as part of an agreement signed two years ago to remove foreign troops by the end of September. Iraq’s Prime Minister Ali al‑Zaidi said the move marked the country’s transition to full responsibility for its security and stability.
The UK Ministry of Defence said the ten‑year effort to defeat the Islamic State has been fully achieved and that Iraq and its partners can now focus on enduring cooperation under Iraqi leadership. The Prime Minister will hold four National “Sovereignty Days” to celebrate the departure.
Despite the victory, tensions persist. Iran‑aligned militias remain a challenge for the new‑era Iraqi security forces, with an ongoing threat that the Prime Minister hopes will be contained as the U.S. and the UK continue to provide targeted training and intelligence support from bases in Jordan.
The withdrawal also arrives after a decade of close ties between Iraq and the West, dating back to the 2003 Iraq War and the 2014 Islamic State surge. Voluntary withdrawal marks a new chapter for Iraq, yet the region’s volatility remains a concern for international observers.
