US To End Anti-ISIS Mission in Iraq by 2025, Troop Withdrawal Planned
By The Media Line Staff
The US and Iraq reached an agreement on Friday to bring the US-led military coalition’s mission in Iraq, focused on combating ISIS, to an end by next year. While some US troops will withdraw from long-held bases, officials did not specify how many of the 2,500 US forces would remain in Iraq afterward. Pentagon deputy press secretary Sabrina Singh stated that the US military presence would be adjusted, but details were not provided.
This decision comes amid heightened tensions in the Middle East, as conflicts involving Israel, Hezbollah in Lebanon, and Hamas in Gaza raise the risk of a broader regional war. US military bases in Iraq have been frequent targets of attacks by Iran-backed militias, which intensified following the Israel-Hamas war last year.
The agreement outlines a two-phase plan. By September 2025, the coalition’s mission will conclude, and troops will leave bases such as Ain al-Asad and Baghdad International Airport, relocating to Hareer base in northern Iraq’s Kurdistan region. In the second phase, the US will maintain a limited presence to support counter-ISIS efforts in Syria until 2026, though the future number of troops in Iraq remains unclear.
Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed al-Sudani expressed confidence in Iraqi forces’ ability to handle the remnants of ISIS but faces internal pressure from pro-Iran factions. Meanwhile, US officials cautioned that the threat of ISIS persists, especially in Syria.
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