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In Photos: US troops exit Iraq after 12-year campaign against Islamic State

Updated On: 01 October, 2026 11:39 AM IST | ronak mastakar

The US military announced Wednesday that it completed the withdrawal of all American troops from Iraq, ending a 12-year mission to fight the Islamic State group and prompting President Donald Trump to hail the conclusion of "a very expensive excursion into Hell." The last US troops left an air base in northern Iraq under a deal between Baghdad and Washington. (Pics/AFP)

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Pic/AFP
Pic/AFP
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Trump, in a social media post, described the withdrawal by a September 30 deadline as "orderly." Appearing soon after at a White House event celebrating Hispanics, he spoke at length about the withdrawal and said, "It's been a long time with very bad decision making that got us involved in this quagmire in the first place. It was a quagmire. For many, many years it lasted. But soon that part of history will be over."
Trump, in a social media post, described the withdrawal by a September 30 deadline as "orderly." Appearing soon after at a White House event celebrating Hispanics, he spoke at length about the withdrawal and said, "It's been a long time with very bad decision making that got us involved in this quagmire in the first place. It was a quagmire. For many, many years it lasted. But soon that part of history will be over."
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He said the shift was a victory for the US, Iraq and a sign of victory over the Islamic State group. The withdrawal, agreed on two years ago, comes against the backdrop of the ongoing war between the United States and Iran that has also sometimes spilt over into Iraq, with Iran-backed militias firing on US troops and the US striking the groups' strongholds.
He said the shift was a victory for the US, Iraq and a sign of victory over the Islamic State group. The withdrawal, agreed on two years ago, comes against the backdrop of the ongoing war between the United States and Iran that has also sometimes spilt over into Iraq, with Iran-backed militias firing on US troops and the US striking the groups' strongholds.
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Trump's comments came as his own decision earlier this year to launch the war with Iran has been compared to the Iraq war for its undefined mission as it nears its seventh month. Appearing at the White House, Trump made that comparison, arguing that both his one-day military action in Venezuela earlier this year to capture now-former President Nicolas Maduro and the Iran war compared favourably, taking far less time and with fewer deaths of US troops.
Trump's comments came as his own decision earlier this year to launch the war with Iran has been compared to the Iraq war for its undefined mission as it nears its seventh month. Appearing at the White House, Trump made that comparison, arguing that both his one-day military action in Venezuela earlier this year to capture now-former President Nicolas Maduro and the Iran war compared favourably, taking far less time and with fewer deaths of US troops.
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In recent years, Washington has sought to shift its focus from the Middle East toward Asia, but that shift has been inconsistent, with the Pentagon alternating between reducing its Mideast presence and then finding itself engaging in new conflicts - including the ongoing war in Iran. Baghdad touted the end of the US mission as a sign of the country's increasing strength and sovereignty.
In recent years, Washington has sought to shift its focus from the Middle East toward Asia, but that shift has been inconsistent, with the Pentagon alternating between reducing its Mideast presence and then finding itself engaging in new conflicts - including the ongoing war in Iran. Baghdad touted the end of the US mission as a sign of the country's increasing strength and sovereignty.
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The withdrawal was also celebrated by Iran-backed groups but raised concerns among some other Iraqis, particularly in the Kurdish region, where many fear a resurgence of the Islamic State group as well as more attacks by Iran-linked groups, possibly emboldened by the departure of US forces.  Meanwhile, questions loom around the future of the Iraqi militias, which the Baghdad government has sought to disarm, with little success so far.
The withdrawal was also celebrated by Iran-backed groups but raised concerns among some other Iraqis, particularly in the Kurdish region, where many fear a resurgence of the Islamic State group as well as more attacks by Iran-linked groups, possibly emboldened by the departure of US forces.  Meanwhile, questions loom around the future of the Iraqi militias, which the Baghdad government has sought to disarm, with little success so far.
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Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell said in a statement that US troops and equipment had completed an "orderly departure" from the air base in Irbil, in northern Iraq's semi-autonomous Kurdish region.
Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell said in a statement that US troops and equipment had completed an "orderly departure" from the air base in Irbil, in northern Iraq's semi-autonomous Kurdish region.
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"This milestone reflects the success of a 12-year campaign that defeated ISIS as an organised military threat in Iraq and across the region," he said. "It also marks a transition from a wartime coalition mission to an Iraqi-led security effort supported by a more normal bilateral security relationship." He added that the US military "will continue to provide targeted training and intelligence support to our Iraqi partners."
"This milestone reflects the success of a 12-year campaign that defeated ISIS as an organised military threat in Iraq and across the region," he said. "It also marks a transition from a wartime coalition mission to an Iraqi-led security effort supported by a more normal bilateral security relationship." He added that the US military "will continue to provide targeted training and intelligence support to our Iraqi partners."
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Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi presided over the handover ceremony and described the US withdrawal as the beginning of a "new phase, one defined by Iraq's sovereignty, the strength of its institutions, the readiness of its forces, the unity of its decision-making, and balanced partnerships with its friends."
Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi presided over the handover ceremony and described the US withdrawal as the beginning of a "new phase, one defined by Iraq's sovereignty, the strength of its institutions, the readiness of its forces, the unity of its decision-making, and balanced partnerships with its friends."
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He said Iraqi security forces will continue the fight against IS and the government will ensure that non-state groups no longer hold weapons.
He said Iraqi security forces will continue the fight against IS and the government will ensure that non-state groups no longer hold weapons.

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