US, Iraq reach deal for phased withdrawal of coalition troops by 2026

The United States and Iraq are reportedly close to finalizing an agreement for the phased withdrawal of U.S.-led coalition troops, with a complete exit planned by the end of 2026.

According to sources familiar with the ongoing discussions, hundreds of coalition troops will be withdrawn from Iraq by September 2025, with the remaining forces to depart a year later. The deal, first reported by Reuters, is the result of six months of high-stakes negotiations spearheaded by Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani. The talks, prompted by increasing regional tensions and attacks on U.S. forces by Iran-backed militias, signal a new chapter in the countries’ military cooperation.

The withdrawal will see coalition forces leave the Ain al-Asad airbase in the western Anbar province and drastically reduce their presence in Baghdad by next September, while operations in Erbil, within the Kurdistan region, will continue until the end of 2026.

The phased pullout reflects Iraq’s broader goal of transitioning from a foreign military presence to more direct, bilateral cooperation in military, security, economic, and cultural spheres. If finalized, the agreement could be publicly announced within weeks.

The tentative deal marks a shift in U.S.-Iraq relations and is likely to shape the broader geopolitical landscape in the region, where the presence of foreign troops has been a contentious issue for years. An official involved in the negotiations commented, “This agreement would be a major step towards Iraq regaining full sovereignty while maintaining a strong relationship with the U.S. and its allies in new ways.”