US Plans to Complete Military Withdrawal from Iraq by September 30 | Ukraine news

A deadline discussed in Baghdad could mark the end of a military presence that has shaped Iraq’s security landscape for more than two decades.

The United States plans to complete the full withdrawal of its troops from Iraq by September 30. The move is intended to end the American military presence in the country, which began after the 2003 invasion.

The timeline for winding down the mission was discussed by Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi and U.S. Central Command chief Admiral Brad Cooper. The meeting took place on Wednesday.

I confirmed September 30 as the set and final date for the conclusion of the Global Coalition’s military mission to defeat ISIS in Iraq and the completion of the withdrawal of its forces.

– Ali al-Zaidi

Withdrawal of U.S. Troops from Erbil

Representatives of Iraqi Kurdistan said that U.S. troops began leaving Erbil around three weeks ago.

The U.S. contingent in Iraq reached its highest level in 2007, when it exceeded 170,000 troops. In December 2011, U.S. combat units withdrew from the country.

However, in 2014, U.S. forces returned at the invitation of the Iraqi government. This followed the rise of the Islamic State group, which seized significant territories in Iraq and Syria.

End of the Coalition Mission in Iraq

After ISIS lost control of the areas it had captured, the United States kept around 2,500 troops in Iraq. In July, during a meeting with President Donald Trump, Ali al-Zaidi also stressed that U.S. forces must leave the country for good by September 30.

Thus, the designated date is set to mark the end of the Global Coalition’s military mission and the withdrawal of its forces from Iraq.