The US Pentagon announced on Wednesday, September 30, 2026, the official end of the anti-jihadist coalition mission deployed in Iraq for 12 years and led by the US. The coalition's forces and equipment departed from Erbil Air Base, according to foreign media reports. This move follows a joint statement made by the US and Iraq in September 2024.
The anti-jihadist coalition, led by the US, was deployed in Iraq and Syria in 2014 to combat the Islamic State (IS) group, which had seized large areas of territory in both countries and committed atrocities. The coalition's mission was to defeat IS, which was achieved in Iraq in 2017 and in Syria in 2019. However, some coalition forces remained to fight against the last elements of the group.
The decision to end the coalition's mission was made by Baghdad and Washington in 2024, with the coalition beginning its withdrawal from Iraq in 2025 and limiting its presence to Erbil Airport in the Kurdistan region. The coalition had already withdrawn from Syria earlier in 2026. Sean Parnell, a spokesperson for the US Department of Defense, confirmed the end of the mission, stating that it was completed in accordance with the 2024 joint statement.
Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaïdi called for October 1 to be celebrated as "Sovereignty Day," marking the end of the coalition's mission and the country's progress towards sovereignty. The Prime Minister's office stated that this event consolidated the presence of the state and its institutions. The country's leaders also emphasized the need to address the issue of "arms outside state authority."
Ali al-Zaïdi's government had initially set a deadline of September 30 for the disarmament of pro-Iranian factions that have been attacking US forces in Iraq. However, this deadline was postponed, and negotiations to regulate the arms are ongoing. Some factions have announced the integration of their armed brigades into state institutions, while influential groups have refused to disarm.
The pro-Iranian factions had conditioned their disarmament on the departure of international troops and the end of US influence in Iraq. The US had pressured Ali al-Zaïdi's government to achieve the disarmament of these groups. The situation remains complex, with several armed groups still refusing to render their arms.
The end of the coalition's mission marks a significant development in Iraq's relations with the US and its path towards sovereignty. The country's leaders are now focused on addressing the challenges posed by armed groups and consolidating state authority. The US Pentagon's announcement confirmed the end of a 12-year mission, marking a new chapter in Iraq's security and relations with the international community.
Key points
- The US Pentagon announced the official end of the anti-jihadist coalition mission in Iraq.
- The coalition's mission was completed in accordance with a joint statement made by the US and Iraq in 2024.
- Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaïdi called for October 1 to be celebrated as "Sovereignty Day," marking the end of the coalition's mission.
