The United States and Iraq have announced a plan to transition from a US-led coalition military mission in Iraq to bilateral security partnerships by September 2025. The coalition was formed in 2014 to combat Islamic State in both Iraq and Syria, with approximately 2,500 US troops in Iraq and 900 in Syria. The details of the transition, including the number of troops leaving Iraq and from which bases, are still unclear.
The agreement, reported by Reuters, will see a gradual reduction of troops with the goal of having all coalition forces leave the Ain al-Asad airbase by September 2025. The US and other coalition nations are expected to maintain a presence in Erbil. The move represents a significant shift in US military posture in the Middle East, with a continued focus on countering Islamic State and also as a strategic counterbalance to Iranian influence.
This transition will likely be a political win for Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani as he navigates maintaining both US and Iranian alliances. The agreement aims to strengthen the US-Iraqi bilateral relationship while adjusting to the evolving security landscape in the region.
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