Iraq says international coalition withdrawal to be completed by Sept. 30

BAGHDAD,  Aug 27: The withdrawal of international coalition forces from Iraq is accelerating and is expected to be completed by September 30, 2026, Iraqi military spokesman Sabah al-Numan said Wednesday.

Al-Numan told Al-Iraqiya TV, according to the Iraqi News Agency (INA), that the withdrawal is being carried out in coordination with the office of Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi, the commander in chief of the armed forces, and is proceeding according to an agreed timetable.

German forces completed their withdrawal from Erbil in northern Iraq on Wednesday after years of participation in the US-led coalition formed in 2014 to fight ISIS. German troops had been stationed in Erbil since 2015, providing training to Iraqi forces and Peshmerga fighters, supporting weapons programs and conducting aerial reconnaissance.

The facilities previously used by German forces at Erbil airport will be handed over to airport authorities, while other military sites will be transferred to the Peshmerga, al-Numan said. He added that departing coalition forces are moving personnel and equipment by land and air under security procedures and official approvals.

Iraq completed the first phase of its plan to end the coalition's mission in January following the withdrawal of US forces from Ain al-Asad air base in western Anbar province and its handover to Iraqi forces. The second and final phase, which runs until September 30, 2026, includes support for counter-ISIS operations in Syria from Erbil.

Al-Numan said Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi had ordered the formation of a committee to determine Iraq's future relationship with coalition countries after the withdrawal deadline. Future cooperation is expected to focus on intelligence sharing, information exchange and weapons programs.

The withdrawal plan follows an agreement announced by Baghdad and Washington in September 2024 to gradually transition from the coalition's military mission to bilateral security relations with member countries, with the process scheduled to conclude in September 2026.