Iraq seeks withdrawal of US-led coalition troops by September 2025

Iraq has called for troops from the US-led military coalition to begin withdrawing from the country in September, with an aim to end the coalition’s mission by September 2025, according to Al Arabiya, which cited four Iraqi sources. Discussions are ongoing in Washington this week, but no formal agreement has been reached, said Iraqi and US officials.

In a press briefing yesterday, US State Department spokesperson Mathew Miller noted that the focus of the talks is on transitioning the coalition’s mission based on the threat from Daesh, without providing further details.

The US-led coalition was formed in 2014 to combat the so-called “Islamic State” group, following the illegal US invasion of Iraq in 2003 and subsequent occupation and withdrawal in 2011. Currently, around 2,500 US troops are stationed across three main bases in Iraq, supported by over 80 coalition members.

The exact number of troops to leave remains uncertain. Iraqi sources suggest that most will depart, while US officials indicate that many may stay on in an advisory role. The US aims to maintain a military presence in Iraq to support operations in Syria, where approximately 900 US troops are stationed illegally.

Iran-aligned Iraqi factions have been pushing for the expulsion of US forces, while US officials seek to counter Iranian influence. The talks began in January amid escalating tensions between Iraqi resistance groups and US forces, exacerbated by the Israeli war against the Palestinians in Gaza.

Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani is under pressure from Iran-aligned factions to expel US forces but aims to balance Baghdad’s relations with both Washington and Tehran. Daesh, despite being defeated territorially in Iraq in 2017 and Syria in 2019, continues to pose a threat, with increased attacks in the region, including incidents in Iran, Russia and, most recently, Oman.

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