US officials have announced a wind-down of the US-led coalition fighting ISIS in Iraq by the end of 2025, but have left the door open to a prolonged military presence beyond that. The future of US troops in Iraq remains uncertain, with officials emphasizing that it is more of a transition than a full withdrawal. The US will be ending the presence of coalition forces in certain locations by September 2025, with plans to continue operating in Iraq in some capacity at least through 2026 to support ongoing anti-ISIS efforts in Syria.
The US-Iraq defense ties are expected to shift towards an expanded bilateral security relationship, though it is unclear if this will result in a complete withdrawal of US troops. The US initially invaded Iraq in 2003 as part of the global war on terror and withdrew most troops in 2011, only to redeploy forces in 2014 to combat ISIL. The Biden administration ended the US combat mission in Iraq in 2021, shifting troops to an advisory role.
Discussions about further troop reductions began in January with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani and top-ranking officials from both Iraq and the US-led coalition. The presence of US troops in Iraq has been politically contentious and opposed by some factions, with bases housing soldiers coming under attack by Iran-aligned militias. While attacks have reduced in frequency, the future of US military presence in Iraq remains uncertain amidst ongoing transitions and negotiations.
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