Troops scheduled to leave Iraq by 2026, US shifts to advisory role

[karah rucker]

THE UNITED STATES HAS REACHED A TENTATIVE AGREEMENT WITH IRAQ TO WITHDRAW HUNDREDS OF AMERICAN-LED TROOPS BY SEPTEMBER 2025, WITH REMAINING FORCES EXPECTED TO LEAVE BY THE END OF 2026. THIS DECISION FOLLOWS EXTENSIVE NEGOTIATIONS AND REFLECTS A SIGNIFICANT SHIFT IN U.S. MILITARY STRATEGY IN THE REGION.

CURRENTLY, APPROXIMATELY 2,500 U.S. TROOPS ARE STATIONED IN IRAQ, WITH AN ADDITIONAL 900 DEPLOYED IN NEIGHBORING SYRIA.

UNDER THE AGREEMENT, MULTIPLE SOURCES TELL REUTERS TROOPS WILL BE FULLY WITHDRAWN FROM THE AL-ASAD AIRBASE AND SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCED IN BAGHDAD. HOWEVER, A CONTINGENT WILL REMAIN IN THE SEMI-AUTONOMOUS NORTHERN KURDISTAN REGION TO SUPPORT ANTI-ISIS OPERATIONS IN SYRIA UNTIL LATE 2026.

THIS AGREEMENT ALIGNS WITH BROADER U.S. EFFORTS TO TRANSITION FROM DIRECT MILITARY ENGAGEMENT TO SUPPORTING IRAQ THROUGH ADVISORY ROLES AND BILATERAL SECURITY PARTNERSHIPS.

THIS PIVOT AIMS TO SUPPORT IRAQ’S SOVEREIGNTY AND STABILITY WHILE ADDRESSING THE ONGOING THREATS POSED BY ISIS REMNANTS IN THE REGION.

DESPITE THE PLANNED WITHDRAWAL, THE U.S. PRESENCE IN IRAQ HAS BEEN A CONTENTIOUS ISSUE, ATTRACTING CRITICISM AND SOMETIMES HOSTILE ACTIONS FROM IRAN-BACKED MILITIAS.

AMERICAN FORCES WITHDREW FROM IRAQ IN 2011 AND RETURNED IN 2014 TO LEAD A COALITION TO COMBAT ISIS.

THE U.S. MAINTAINS THAT ANY ATTACKS ON ITS FORCES OR INTERESTS IN THE REGION COULD ESCALATE TENSIONS SIGNIFICANTLY.

THE COMPLETION OF THE WITHDRAWAL PLAN AWAITS FORMAL APPROVAL FROM BOTH WASHINGTON AND BAGHDAD, WITH AN ANNOUNCEMENT ANTICIPATED ON THE COMING WEEKS.

THE EXTENSIVE MILITARY INVOLVEMENT OF THE U.S. IN IRAQ BEGAN WITH THE 2003 INVASION THAT RESULTED IN THE OVERTHROW OF SADDAM HUSSEIN.

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