Iraq welcomes the last UK and US troops as Operation Inherent Resolve ends
After more than three decades of U.S. and U.K. military involvement in the country, the final British and American soldiers departed Iraq late last week, closing nearly a decade‑long coalition effort against the Islamic State.
Around 100 UK troops left Erbil, the capital of Iraq’s autonomous Kurdish region, concluding a withdrawal that was carefully synchronized with the U.S. exit from the same base. Both nations had been part of the international task force known as Operation Inherent Resolve since 2014, when the coalition first launched coordinated operations to eradicate the IS threat.
The move followed an agreement signed in late 2024 that stipulated foreign forces would leave Iraq by the end of September 2026. Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al‑Zaidi described the departure as a “transition to a phase in which Iraq assumes full responsibility for its security and stability.” He announced that four “Sovereignty Days” would be celebrated nationwide to commemorate the withdrawal.
Official statements from the British Ministry of Defence highlighted that more than 111,000 members of the Iraqi Security Forces—including roughly 21,000 Peshmerga troops—had been trained and assisted by the coalition. The RAF had flown thousands of sorties, destroying over 2,300 IS targets and striking down nearly 100 drones in the first six weeks of the 2023‑2026 Iran‑hostile cross‑border operations. The U.S. Central Command confirmed that it would keep providing “targeted training and intelligence support” to its Iraqi partners, while a joint taskforce based in Jordan remains ready to respond if needed.
While the coalition’s exit signals a significant reduction in foreign presence, analysts warn that the vacuum could embolden Iranian‑supported militias, which have historically resisted the Prime Minister’s disarmament measures. The UN has estimated that the remnants of IS still include a few hundred fighters capable of carrying out low‑level attacks, but the core of the terrorist network is largely crippled.
The Iraq government has already begun to assume routine security functions, and the path forward will hinge on its ability to maintain stability amid ongoing regional tensions and internal militancy. The departure also marks a historic moment in the nation’s reconstruction, reflecting both the end of a prolonged international military engagement and the start of a new era where Iraqers take center stage in keeping the country secure.
