The Pentagon has announced a significant reduction in U.S. and allied forces in Iraq, marking the end of a lengthy military campaign against the Islamic State (IS) jihadist group that has been ongoing for over a decade. This decision is part of a planned transition agreed upon by Washington and Baghdad, which aims to conclude the international coalition’s military mission in Iraq by September 2025.
Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell emphasized that this reduction underscores the joint success in combating IS and represents a shift towards a sustainable security partnership between the U.S. and Iraq. Parnell affirmed that the U.S. will maintain close collaboration with the Iraqi government and coalition partners to ensure a responsible transition during this phase.
A senior defense official revealed that the troop count in Iraq is expected to drop to less than 2,000, with most stationed in Arbil, the capital of Iraq’s autonomous Kurdistan region. This transition underlines a growing confidence in Iraq’s capability to handle its own counter-IS operations without a substantial U.S. military presence in federal Iraq.
While U.S. troops will remain in Iraq, their primary focus will shift towards operations in Syria. The official pointed out that the agreement allows for international support of anti-IS efforts in Syria from the Kurdistan region until September 2026. This reflects an evolving strategy to maintain regional stability while reducing direct U.S. involvement in Iraq.
In April, Parnell announced a planned reduction of troops in Syria as well, halving the presence there. Current estimates show that troop numbers in Syria have decreased from 2,000 to over 900.
Despite suffering significant defeats, IS continues to maintain a presence in rural areas across both Iraq and Syria, prompting U.S. forces to conduct occasional strikes and raids aimed at thwarting any potential resurgence of the group. This ongoing vigilance underscores the complex dynamics of the region and the evolving security landscape as the coalition transitions towards a new phase of engagement.
