US-Led Coalition Concludes Twelve-Year Military Mission in Iraq

Coalition forces first deployed to Iraq and Syria in 2014 to halt the rapid territorial expansion of IS. After the group’s defeat in Iraq in 2017 and later in Syria, the coalition shifted its focus to hunting militant remnants. Following an agreement reached in 2024, the remaining troops have gradually consolidated their positions before the final withdrawal from the autonomous Kurdistan region.

Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi designated October 1 as Sovereignty Day, framing the exit as a vital step toward restoring the state's monopoly on violence. However, the path forward remains precarious. Tehran-backed militias, who long cited the presence of foreign troops as a justification for their own armed status, now face pressure from the government to disarm. Negotiations have stalled, with groups like Kataeb Hezbollah demanding an end to all American economic and political influence while simultaneously threatening the stability of the current administration.

For residents in the Kurdistan capital of Erbil, the withdrawal brings immediate security concerns. Local citizens have expressed anxiety over the loss of coalition interceptors, which previously protected the region from drone and missile strikes. As the coalition departs, the Iraqi government must now prove it can manage regional tensions without the shield of foreign military support.