Iraq has announced the end of the US-led international coalition’s mission, marking a transition to bilateral relations with coalition member states, the prime minister’s security adviser said.
In a statement carried by the official Iraqi News Agency on Wednesday, Qasim al Araji called the move an “important milestone,” saying it followed negotiations and understandings that began in July 2021.
US forces completed their withdrawal from their remaining positions in Iraq at the end of this month.
He said the new phase would involve “bilateral relations with its countries” aimed at consolidating Iraq’s sovereignty.
Araji credited the victory over the Daesh terrorist group to “the sacrifices of Iraqis and the valour of our armed forces in their various branches and formations,” as well as support from the international coalition and brotherly and friendly countries.
He stressed that ending the coalition’s mission “does not mean the end of the partnership,” but rather a shift towards bilateral relations with its member states.
Security and intelligence cooperation, along with the exchange of information and expertise and capacity-building efforts, will continue “on the basis of mutual respect and shared interests,” he said.
Bilateral security relationship
The US Department of War said on Wednesday that the US and its coalition partners “formally concluded Operation Inherent Resolve in Iraq,” while the “orderly departure” of coalition forces and equipment from Erbil Air Base marked the conclusion of the military mission.
Pentagon chief spokesperson Sean Parnell said the milestone “marks a transition from a wartime coalition mission to an Iraqi-led security effort supported by a more normal bilateral security relationship.”
He said the 12-year campaign “defeated Daesh as an organised military threat in Iraq and across the region.”
Parnell said that the US expects the Iraqi Security Forces to “lead the continuing effort to secure Iraq and keep Daesh remnants suppressed,” noting that the US Department of Defense will continue to provide “targeted training and intelligence support” to its Iraqi partners.
“The primary responsibility for addressing Iraq’s remaining security challenges, including Daesh remnants and Iran-aligned militias that undermine Iraqi sovereignty and regional stability, now rests with the Government of Iraq,” Parnell said.
Separately, US Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed on Wednesday that US forces and equipment had completed their “orderly departure” from Erbil Air Base in northern Iraq, marking the end of the Operation Inherent Resolve mission in Iraq.
CENTCOM said the move was “part of a planned transition to a US-Iraq bilateral defence relationship.”
The Combined Joint Task Force-Operation Inherent Resolve “remains operational” and is now headquartered in Jordan, while US forces “continue the counter-Daesh mission in Syria alongside Coalition partners and the Syrian government,” CENTCOM said.
Baghdad and Washington agreed in September 2024 to end the coalition’s military mission in Iraq under a timetable extending through the end of September 2026, with a transition to bilateral security relations between Iraq and member states.
The coalition was formed under US leadership in 2014 after Daesh seized large areas of Iraq and Syria, providing Iraqi forces with air, intelligence and training support during operations against the terror group.
Iraq announced in December 2017 that it had regained full control of territory seized by Daesh.
