As the international coalition’s withdrawal from Iraq enters its final phase, Iraqi military spokesman Sabah al-Numan said the process is expected to be completed on September 30, 2026. This phase also includes support for anti-ISIS operations in Syria through Erbil.
Al-Numan said the withdrawal schedule was being implemented in direct coordination with the office of Prime Minister Ali al-Zaydi. The Iraqi prime minister’s office is monitoring the movement of departing troops and military equipment by land and air.
German forces leave Erbil
German forces serving in Erbil as part of the U.S.-led international coalition completed their withdrawal from the city on Wednesday. German troops had been stationed in Erbil since 2015, contributing to the training of Iraqi forces and Peshmerga members, as well as weapons programs and aerial reconnaissance operations.
The facilities used by the German forces at Erbil International Airport are planned to be handed over to the airport administration. Other military facilities are expected to be left to the Peshmerga forces.
These handovers are taking place after the Ayn al-Asad and Balad bases, where coalition missions ended, were transferred to Iraq’s Ministry of Defense.
Baghdad to determine security ties after 2026
Iraq announced that it had completed the first part of its plan to end the coalition mission in January. As part of this phase, U.S. forces left Ayn al-Asad Air Base in western Anbar province and handed the facility over to Iraqi forces.
The second and final phase, planned to continue until September 30, 2026, has begun. Support for anti-ISIS operations in Syria from Erbil is among the elements of this phase.
Al-Numan said the prime minister had ordered the formation of a committee to determine the nature of relations between Iraq and coalition countries after September 30. He said future cooperation would be based primarily on coordination in intelligence sharing, information exchange and weapons programs.
Plan based on Baghdad-Washington agreement
The plan, which envisages a gradual transition from the coalition’s military mission to bilateral security relations, is based on an agreement announced by Baghdad and Washington in September 2024. The process is expected to be completed in September 2026.
The withdrawing forces are following procedures established to ensure the security of routes and destinations. The movements of the troops are subject to official approval, and daily reports are submitted to the commander in chief.
The U.S.-led coalition was formed in 2014, when ISIS established control over large parts of Iraq and Syria. Iraq declared in December 2017 that it had retaken all of its territory from ISIS, but the group continued to carry out sporadic attacks in the country.
