Iraq plans to end US-led coalition work by September 2025
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – Iraq plans for troops from a U.S.-led military coalition to start withdrawing in September and to officially conclude the coalition’s operations by September 2025, Reuters said on Tuesday.
U.S. State Department spokesperson Mathew Miller said in a news briefing that representatives from both sides are meeting in Washington this week to discuss how to change the mission of the U.S.-led coalition based on the threat from the Islamic State group (ISIS).
There is no official agreement on ending the coalition or any timeline for that decision at this time, according to both Iraqi sources and U.S. officials.
The exact number of troops that would withdraw under a potential agreement is not defined. Iraqi sources believe that most of the troops will eventually leave.
U.S. officials, however, suggest that a significant number may stay to support a new advisory and assistance mission.
The U.S. has approximately 2,500 troops stationed in Iraq as part of a coalition of over 80 countries.
This coalition was established in 2014 to fight ISIS in Iraq and Syria.
In January, Washington and Baghdad started to hold talks about the future of the coalition. This came following increased attacks between U.S. forces and Iranian-backed militias in Syrian and Iraq after the start of the Israel-Hamas war in October 2023.