US-Iraq Agreement: US Troops to Exit Iraq by 2026
On a recent Friday, the US and Iraqi governments reached a significant agreement that will see the final withdrawal of all US-coalition troops from Iraq.
US Troops to Exit Iraq by 2026
Multiple sources confirmed to Reuters that hundreds of American and Western allied troops still in Iraq will leave the country by September 2025. The remaining troops are expected to exit by the end of 2026.
End of a Nearly Quarter-Century Occupation
The withdrawal will mark the end of an almost 25-year occupation, which began with the 2003 bombing of Baghdad and full-scale invasion under the Bush-Cheney administration. This invasion led to the overthrow of Saddam Hussein, resulting in years of chaos, an anti-US insurgency, and the rise of terror groups such as AQI and ISIS. The conflict caused the death of hundreds of thousands of Iraqi civilians and thousands of US and coalition troops.
US-Iraq Relations
Ironically, the government that replaced Saddam has been allied with Tehran and dominated by Shia politicians. A senior US official stated, "We have an agreement, its now just a question of when to announce it." The Pentagon has, in recent years, justified its presence in Iraq as a necessity to combat ISIS.
Pressure for US Withdrawal
For years, there have been widespread efforts in the Iraqi parliament and among the population to force the foreign troops out. However, political leaders in Iraqi Kurdistan have been more supportive of the US presence. More recently, US bases and even the embassy have come under attack by Iran-aligned Shia paramilitary groups, with the Iraqi Army often accused of giving these groups free reign.
Withdrawal Delayed
The US withdrawal was initially scheduled for earlier this summer but was delayed due to escalating tensions between Israel and Iran. Farhad Alaaldin, foreign affairs adviser to the Iraqi prime minister, stated that technical talks with Washington on the coalition drawdown had concluded and that the relationship between Iraq and the international coalition was transitioning to a new level.
Implications for US Troops in Syria
The Pentagon has expressed concerns that a full withdrawal from Iraq would leave American troops in Syria more vulnerable, as US troops in Syria have been supported logistically from the Iraq side of the border. However, the Syrian government and its allied groups in Iraq have long accused American forces of looting Syrian oil and transporting it across the border into Iraq.
Previous US Troop Withdrawals
This announcement comes after the controversial rapid troop exit from Afghanistan in August 2021, which resulted in many deaths, including among Marines and other service members, as well as hundreds of Afghan civilians.
Remaining US Troops in Iraq and Syria
It is believed that there are currently around 2,500 US troops still in Iraq, many of them Army intelligence and special forces advisors, and 900 in neighboring Syria. However, the number of contractors and intelligence officers is likely much higher. Even after the final US troops depart Iraq, a significant number of private contractors are expected to remain.
Bottom Line
This agreement marks a significant turning point in US-Iraq relations and the end of a long-standing military occupation. As the US continues to navigate its foreign policy and military presence in the Middle East, it remains to be seen what the full implications of this withdrawal will be. What are your thoughts on this development? Feel free to share this article with your friends and discuss. Don't forget to sign up for the Daily Briefing, which is delivered every day at 6pm.
