The U.S. military has completed the withdrawal of American forces and equipment from Erbil Air Base in Iraq, thus bringing to a close its Operation Inherent Resolve mission….
The U.S. military has completed the withdrawal of American forces and equipment from Erbil Air Base in Iraq, thus bringing to a close its Operation Inherent Resolve mission.
According to Fox News, this was announced by the U.S. Central Command on Wednesday.
The exit closes the Iraq chapter of the U.S.-led military mission launched against ISIS in 2014, while shifting primary responsibility for the country’s security to Iraqi forces. The broader counter-ISIS campaign is not ending, however, with the U.S.-led task force relocating its headquarters to Jordan and operations continuing in Syria.
“Job well done to the tens of thousands of American service members, diplomats, and civilian personnel who answered the call in Iraq. Because of your grit, sacrifice and professionalism, ISIS no longer poses a systemic threat to Iraq’s national security and Iraqi security forces, including the Peshmerga and other Iraqi Kurdistan Region security forces, now possess the capacity, leadership, and operational independence to unilaterally manage threats to their homeland,” said CENTCOM Commander, Admiral Brad Cooper.
Chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell called the departure the formal conclusion of Operation Inherent Resolve in Iraq and said it marked a transition “from a wartime coalition mission to an Iraqi-led security effort supported by a more normal bilateral security relationship.”
The Pentagon said the U.S. will continue providing targeted training and intelligence support to Iraqi forces even after the withdrawal, while Iraqi security forces, including the Peshmerga, take the lead in keeping ISIS remnants suppressed.
Erbil Air Base in northern Iraq served as the main operational hub for Combined Joint Task Force — Operation Inherent Resolve and hosted most of the roughly 1,500 American and coalition forces supporting counter-ISIS operations, according to CENTCOM.
U.S. and coalition forces began leaving federal Iraq last October as Washington and Baghdad moved toward a bilateral defence relationship. The final removal of personnel and equipment from Erbil completed that transition on Sept. 30. The withdrawal followed an agreement reached between Washington and Baghdad under the Biden administration in 2024 and carried forward under the Trump administration.
CENTCOM added that the Combined Joint Task Force remains active and is now headquartered in Jordan. U.S. forces also continue counter-ISIS operations in Syria alongside coalition partners and the Syrian government.
The U.S. has roughly 4,000 troops stationed in Jordan, where American forces will continue monitoring the ISIS threat. Muwaffaq Salti Air Base hosts U.S. combat aircraft and has itself become a target during the conflict with Iran. Three U.S. service members were killed in an Iranian attack on the base in July.
“As we step back and hand full primary responsibility for Iraq’s security to the Government of Iraq and the brave people of Iraq, U.S. and coalition forces stationed across the region will remain ready to respond to any ISIS threats that arise,” Cooper said.
“Maintaining our vigilance and readiness is essential to protecting the U.S. homeland and strengthening regional security,” he added.
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