Marking the formal conclusion of more than two decades of continuous American military deployment, US President Donald Trump announced on Wednesday that the final American military units have officially departed Iraq. Formally terminating Operation Inherent Resolve—the multinational coalition campaign established to combat the Islamic State—Trump framed the departure as a triumphant milestone in American foreign policy. Calling the exit a decisive triumph over terrorism, the President affirmed that the United States is pulling back its personnel after 23 years and billions of dollars spentleaving behind a defeated caliphate while repositioning remaining regional support elements into neighboring Jordan.
‘The Caliph Is Gone, We Are Going Home’: Trump Hails Total Defeat of ISIS
Addressing the nation and publishing official statements across social channels, Donald Trump underscored the historic significance of the pullout:
Triumphant Formal Announcement: Announcing the milestone, Trump declared: “Today I am pleased to announce that the last American troops are leaving Iraq. We are leaving Iraq after 23 years and billions of dollars. This is a victory for America, a victory for Iraq, and a decisive victory over ISIS, which has been completely destroyed.”
Historic Post on X: Reflecting on the campaign on the social platform X, Trump described it as a great day for the nation, writing: “We were stuck in this quagmire because of bad decisions, but now it will be history. We came to fight the Caliph. Now there is no Caliph left. We are going home.”
Praise for Iraqi Leadership: The President extended praise to Iraq’s Prime Minister, Ali al-Zaidiacknowledging bilateral security coordination that facilitated the planned handoff of all forward bases and defensive security perimeters to Iraqi federal armed forces.
Orderly Withdrawal vs. Kabul 2021: No Hardware Left Behind
Trump drew a sharp, deliberate contrast between his administration’s departure protocol and previous foreign troop drawdowns:
Contrasting Afghanistan 2021: Trump specifically referenced the chaotic 2021 military exit from Afghanistan, stating that the Iraq withdrawal was executed systematically, safely, and in full military order.
Securing Military Assets: The administration emphasized that zero sensitive American military equipment, heavy armor, or weaponry was abandoned during the retrograde operations, with all tactical materiel successfully airlifted or redeployed to secure regional hubs.
Regional Realignment to Jordan: While direct frontline presence in Iraqi territory has ended, the Pentagon is relocating central logistical and intelligence units to established airbases inside Jordan to maintain over-the-horizon counter-terrorism deterrence across the Middle East.
2003 to 2026: The 23-Year Operational Arc of the US Military in Iraq
The departure closes a transformative chapter in modern global geopolitics that redefined Middle Eastern power balances:
The 2003 Invasion: American armed forces first crossed into Iraq in March 2003 during Operation Iraqi Freedom, leading to the overthrow of Saddam Hussein’s regime.
First Withdrawal and ISIS Resurgence: Troops previously exited the country under President Barack Obama in 2011, only to be urgently redeployed in 2014 when ISIS declared a cross-border proto-state across Iraq and Syria, prompting the launch of Operation Inherent Resolve.
Implementing the Exit Roadmap: While bilateral bilateral defense agreements outlining an exit timeline were initially mapped out during the Biden administration, the Trump administration finalized and executed the withdrawal ahead of late 2026, officially ending America’s longest overseas combat footprint in the country.