The United States has completed its military withdrawal from Iraq, ending a 23-year period that began with the 2003 invasion and included a renewed campaign against ISIS from 2014.
The final U.S. forces left Erbil Air Base on September 30, 2026, according to U.S. Central Command. Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said the move marks a transition from a wartime coalition mission to an Iraqi-led security effort. Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi called it a new phase for Iraq’s sovereignty.
Brown University’s Costs of War project estimates the broader Iraq and Syria wars cost U.S. taxpayers more than $2.8 trillion, including veterans’ care.
