The United States and its coalition partners formally concluded Operation Inherent Resolve — their decade-long military campaign against the Islamic State (IS) in Iraq — on 30 September, the Pentagon announced. The closure marks a significant shift in the security architecture of the region, transferring primary responsibility for counter-IS operations to Baghdad.

What the Pentagon Said

Pentagon chief spokesman Sean Parnell confirmed in an official statement that the Iraqi Security Forces, including the Peshmerga and other security elements within the Iraqi Kurdistan region, will now 'lead the continuing effort to secure Iraq and keep IS remnants suppressed.' Washington, however, has pledged to continue providing 'targeted training and intelligence support' to its Iraqi partners, signalling a transition rather than a complete disengagement.

Baghdad's Parallel Announcement

Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi independently confirmed the conclusion of the international coalition's mission on the same day. The announcement aligned with a deadline that al-Zaidi had publicly set as far back as August, when he declared 30 September the firm cutoff for ending the coalition's military presence. Separately, Iraq's Foreign Ministry confirmed that the country officially signed an agreement to take over the US Embassy's diplomatic support centre at Baghdad International Airport, formalising the handover as part of the broader drawdown. The agreement was signed by Iraqi Deputy Foreign Minister Mohammed Hussein Bahr Al-Uloom and US Embassy charge d'affaires Steven Fagin.

A Decade in the Making

The coalition's campaign traces its origins to 2014, when the United States and allied nations mobilised forces to counter the IS militants who had seized vast swathes of territory across Iraq and neighbouring Syria. By the end of 2017, the Iraqi government declared full liberation from IS control. A formal agreement between Washington and Baghdad for a gradual US troop withdrawal was reached in 2024 — seven years after that declaration — setting the stage for the conclusion now formalised.

Broader Regional Context

The drawdown comes amid active diplomatic maneuvering by Baghdad. Last week, the Iraqi government disclosed it was in direct dialogue with the United States to secure sanctions exemptions for certain Iraqi airports, allowing flights with Iran to resume on humanitarian grounds — covering medical treatment, education, religious visits, and civilian interests. This followed recent US Department of the Treasury measures against Iranian airlines operating in the region. Iraq has publicly called on all parties to resolve conflicts through dialogue, stressing its role as a de-escalation actor in a region still marked by deep tensions.

What Comes Next

With coalition forces formally out, the onus of preventing an IS resurgence falls squarely on Iraqi security institutions — some of which have historically struggled with coordination and resource gaps. Analysts note that IS remnants remain active in remote areas, and the group has demonstrated a capacity for guerrilla-style attacks even after territorial defeat. The US commitment to 'targeted training and intelligence support' will be closely watched as a measure of how substantive the partnership remains in practice.