President Trump hails US coalition withdrawal from Iraq as 'decisive victory' over ISIS

U.S. President Donald Trump hailed the complete withdrawal of U.S.-led coalition forces from Iraq on Wednesday, September 30, 2026, declaring the end of a multi-year military campaign as a "decisive victory" over the Islamic State (ISIS) and an orderly conclusion to American involvement in the country.

How did President Trump frame the US departure from Iraq?

In a statement published on Truth Social and reiterated during White House remarks, President Trump formally announced the termination of Operation Inherent Resolve as the final coalition personnel and equipment departed Erbil Air Base in northern Iraq. "This Day is a victory for the United States, a victory for Iraq, and a decisive victory over ISIS," Trump wrote, characterizing the withdrawal as the end of what he called "a very expensive excursion into hell" and a long-standing "quagmire" resulting from past strategic mistakes.

President Trump highlighted the complete recovery of American military hardware during the staged exit, contrasting the logistical execution with the 2021 withdrawal from Afghanistan. He also praised Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi, expressing full confidence in Baghdad's new leadership. "We leave with Iraq having a wonderful new Prime Minister, Ali al-Zaidi," Trump said, adding that "he will hopefully be able to handle things very well. We came to fight a caliphate. There is no longer a caliphate. We are going home!"

What are the strategic concerns following the coalition's departure?

Despite Washington's celebratory tone, regional security analysts and diplomatic officials caution that the foreign troop departure leaves critical security questions unanswered:

• Influence of Tehran-Backed Factions: Security experts warn that the withdrawal of coalition air defense and military support could embolden pro-Iran armed factions within Iraq, despite Prime Minister Zaidi's efforts to enforce a national monopoly on weapons.
• Kurdish Security Vulnerabilities: Regional authorities in the autonomous Kurdistan region expressed ongoing anxiety over potential drone and missile attacks without coalition interceptor coverage.
• Bilateral Defense Transition: Washington and Baghdad are transitioning their security relationship from a multilateral coalition framework toward structured bilateral defense and intelligence-sharing partnerships.

According to Anadolu Agency, the departure fulfills a timeline established under a 2024 bilateral agreement between the United States and Iraq.