The United States has completed the withdrawal of its military forces from Iraq, Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein said on Monday.
Hussein said the withdrawal was carried out under an agreement between Baghdad and Washington.
The announcement came two days before the September 30 deadline previously set for the withdrawal of the remaining US forces and the end of the US-led international coalition’s military mission in Iraq.
The withdrawal followed the conclusion of the coalition’s mission against Islamic State militants, according to Iraqi reports.
Hussein said the Iraqi government was now working to take full responsibility for security while maintaining defence and security cooperation with the US under bilateral arrangements.
The US and Iraq agreed in 2024 to gradually end the US-led military mission against Islamic State.
US forces first entered Iraq following the 2003 US-led invasion and withdrew in 2011. They returned in 2014 after Islamic State seized large areas of the country.
The subsequent US-led mission focused on fighting the militant group and supporting Iraqi security forces.
An unnamed US official had earlier told the Associated Press that Washington expected to complete the withdrawal by September 30, although the number of troops remaining in Iraq and their planned destinations were not disclosed.
“The United States, Iraq and coalition partners have achieved tremendous success in defeating ISIS and now the Iraqi security forces, including the Peshmerga and other Iraqi Kurdistan Region security forces, will lead the fight against terrorists in Iraq,” the official said.
Earlier on Monday, The National reported that US forces were still scheduled to leave Iraq on Wednesday, with the withdrawal expected to lead to a bilateral relationship focused on advisory support, training and intelligence sharing.
Hussein’s announcement indicates that the remaining US forces have now left Iraqi territory ahead of the September 30 deadline.
