Trump Announces End of International Coalition Mission in Iraq
Agencies2 min read
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US President Donald Trump announced on Wednesday the departure of the last US troops from Iraq, declaring the end of the "Decisive Resolve" operation that began in 2003, considering the withdrawal as a "victory for the United States and Iraq" and a decisive victory over the ISIS terrorist organization.
Trump wrote in a post on his Truth Social platform that the United States is "leaving and Iraq has a wonderful new Prime Minister," noting that he supported him from the beginning and fully endorsed him.
He said that the "Decisive Resolve" operation was launched in 2003 during the presidency of George Bush, continued under the administration of Barack Hussein Obama in 2014, and under Joe Biden, ending in 2026 during his presidency.
He described the withdrawal as a "victory for the United States, a victory for Iraq, and a decisive victory over ISIS," adding that the organization was "completely eradicated" during his first term, along with what he described as "other very bad and dangerous players."
Trump compared the withdrawal from Iraq to what happened in Afghanistan, saying that the current withdrawal was conducted in an orderly manner, with coalition forces and equipment leaving from Erbil Air Base, considering it the end of a "costly military intervention."
Trump said he set a "clear mission," gave military leaders the tools to accomplish it, and refused to allow the temporary presence to become permanent, adding: "I had the option to stay or leave, and without a doubt, I felt it was time for America to come home."
Iraq had previously announced that September 30 is the deadline for the end of the international coalition's mission in Iraq, affirming that Baghdad will not allow any weapons outside the framework of the state or the use of its territory to target other countries.
Regarding the fate of the bases and sites used by German forces, the sites at Erbil Airport will be handed over to the airport authority, while other military bases will be handed over to the Peshmerga forces.
This coincides with previous experiences in handing over bases, such as Ain al-Asad and Balad, to the Iraqi Ministry of Defense after the coalition's tasks were completed there.
