In brief
The final wave of UK and US troops exited Iraq this week, concluding Operation Inherent Resolve after a joint effort to defeat Islamic State. Around 100 British soldiers and an equivalent number of American soldiers departed from Erbil, coordinated with American forces who left Wednesday. The withdrawal follows a 2014‑2026 agreement to hand over security responsibilities to Iraqi forces. Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al‑Zaidi described the move as a transition to full domestic control. The exits come amid concerns over Iranian‑backed militias and a shifting regional security landscape.
After a decade of presence, the last British and American troops have departed Iraq, marking the end of Operation Inherent Resolve.
Around one hundred UK soldiers and an equal number of US troops left the northern Kurdish city of Erbil this week, having been coordinated with American forces that withdrew on Wednesday. The exit follows a 2014‑2026 agreement between Washington, London and Baghdad to hand Iraq’s security responsibilities to its own forces.
Prime Minister Ali al‑Zaidi welcomed the conclusion of the coalition as a “transition to full responsibility for the country’s security” and announced four national Sovereignty Days to commemorate the draw‑down.
The withdrawal ends Operation Inherent Resolve, the international campaign aimed at defeating the Islamic State extremist group. Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said the mission’s final departure from Erbil “conclusion of the military mission that defeated IS in Iraq.”
Iraqi forces now face the task of neutralising remaining IS elements and Iranian‑aligned militias that threaten sovereignty. Al‑Zaidi pledged to bring all weapons under state control, although several powerful factions resist this plan.
The draw‑down follows rising tensions in the region, notably the US‑Israel war with Iran earlier this year, which heightened attacks on coalition bases. In April, a BBC team saw the Erbil base under drone and missile fire, a stark reminder of the fragile security environment.
