The Iraqi government has announced that all U.S. troops will leave Iraq by September 30, marking the end of the U.S.-led international military mission against the Islamic State (IS) and bringing to a close more than two decades of American military presence in the country.
According to an Al Jazeera report published on Wednesday, the office of Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Al-Zaidi said all foreign forces participating in the anti-IS coalition will complete their withdrawal by the end of September. From October 1, no foreign troops are expected to remain in Iraq.
The Prime Minister’s Office described the transition as a “historic chapter” in Iraq’s modern history.
The announcement followed a meeting between Prime Minister Ali Al-Zaidi and General Brad Cooper, Commander of the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM). A statement issued after the meeting said the withdrawal timetable would remain unchanged, with the presence of foreign coalition forces ending by September 30.
The United States led the invasion of Iraq in 2003, which resulted in the overthrow of President Saddam Hussein. Saddam was captured later that year and, following a lengthy trial, was executed on December 30, 2006.
Although Washington had initially planned to withdraw its forces after Saddam’s removal, the rise of the Islamic State (IS) prompted the United States to maintain a military presence in Iraq as part of the international coalition fighting the extremist group.
Responding to questions from The Associated Press, a Pentagon official said the United States, Iraq and coalition partners had achieved significant progress in weakening IS. He added that Iraqi security forces are now considered capable of dealing with the remaining extremist elements independently.
The Pentagon, however, declined to disclose the current number of U.S. troops still stationed in Iraq.
Most U.S. forces withdrew from Iraqi bases last year, although a limited number remained in the country’s autonomous Kurdistan Region. Several military installations in the region have come under attack in recent months, underscoring the continuing security challenges despite the planned withdrawal.
Source: Al Jazeera; The Associated Press.