Defense Department confirms to Kurdistan24 its commitment to Maintain Anti-ISIS Missions

ERBIL (Kurdistan24) - The United States Department of Defense has reiterated its commitment to withdraw troops from Iraq in line with earlier agreements, while ensuring the continuation of its mission against ISIS from bases in Erbil and Syria. Speaking to Kurdistan24, a defense official stressed that Washington’s force posture remains under review but confirmed that the transition of coalition forces is proceeding as announced.

In response to Kurdistan24’s inquiry, a US defense official stated on background: “We do not have anything new to announce right now. The United States continues to review and, as appropriate, adjust its force posture in Iraq in accordance with the U.S.-Iraq Joint Statement on the transition of the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS in Iraq. As announced, we are committed to end the Coalition’s military mission inside of Iraq by September 2025 and will continue to support defeat ISIS operations in Syria from bases in Iraq through September 2026. After transition, the United States will continue a bilateral security cooperation relationship with Iraq.”

This clarification comes as a senior Iraqi military source confirmed exclusively to Kurdistan24 that the United States will complete the withdrawal of all its remaining troops and personnel from Baghdad by tomorrow. The source explained that much of the redeployment has already taken place in recent days, with significant numbers of American forces pulled out of Ain al-Asad and Victoria bases.

The final stage will involve the evacuation of three key Baghdad sites: the Green Zone, Victoria Base, and the Joint Operations Command headquarters, which will be formally handed over to Iraqi forces. What remains in the capital, according to the official, are military vehicles, logistical supplies, and equipment belonging to US forces. These, along with the last soldiers and staff, are being transported overnight and will be fully removed by tomorrow morning.

The Iraqi source told Kurdistan24 that portions of the departing forces will be redeployed to Erbil, while others will move to Anbar Province before being transferred into northeastern Syria, where American troops maintain bases alongside coalition partners.

The official also clarified that, within the framework of the coalition, only about 20 percent of troops currently in Baghdad are American, with the majority being French and Romanian personnel.

The withdrawal marks a significant milestone in the long trajectory of US involvement in Iraq. In 2003, Washington deployed nearly 130,000 troops to overthrow Saddam Hussein, with numbers rising to about 170,000 by 2007 during the height of sectarian violence.

In 2011, under President Barack Obama, the United States formally ended its combat mission, leaving only a limited advisory presence. However, the rapid rise of the Islamic State in 2014 forced Washington to redeploy more than 5,000 troops to lead the international coalition against the extremist group.

US troop levels gradually declined again in subsequent years, reaching around 3,000 by 2021 and approximately 2,500 by 2023. In 2024, Iraqi Defense Minister Thabit al-Abbasi announced that US forces would leave the country by 2026, an announcement echoed by a Reuters report confirming a phased withdrawal to be completed by the end of that year.

The coalition against ISIS was first established in 2014 after the group captured vast areas of Iraq and Syria and carried out mass executions. Responding to President Barack Obama’s call, more than 60 countries joined the effort to combat the extremist threat.

On Sep. 23, 2014, coalition operations began with American airstrikes in Syria, later joined by Arab countries such as Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Jordan, along with European partners. The strategy relied on heavy airstrikes, the arming and training of local forces—including Iraq’s security forces and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF)—and intelligence support.

While the coalition achieved major victories in degrading ISIS, its mission has faced criticism. Damascus and its allies in Russia and Iran rejected the coalition as illegitimate without Syrian government consent, accusing some members of pursuing regime change rather than counterterrorism.

With the coalition’s combat role in Iraq set to end by September 2025, Washington has made clear that its presence will not disappear entirely. By continuing support for anti-ISIS operations from Erbil and maintaining bases in Western Kurdistan through 2026, the United States seeks to ensure that the extremist group does not resurge.