U.S. and Iraq Reach Preliminary Agreement on Troop Withdrawal Plan

The United States and Iraq have reached a preliminary agreement on the planned withdrawal of U.S.-led coalition forces from Iraq, according to multiple sources familiar with the discussions. The plan, which is expected to be finalized soon, outlines the phased departure of troops over the next few years.

Under the agreement, hundreds of troops are slated to leave Iraq by September 2025, with the remaining forces expected to exit by the end of 2026. The deal requires final approval from both Washington and Baghdad, with an official announcement anticipated later this month. “We have an agreement; it’s now just a question of when to announce it,” a senior U.S. official commented.

The withdrawal plan includes provisions for a new advisory role for some U.S. troops, potentially allowing a limited number to remain in Iraq after the primary drawdown. This shift aims to transition from direct military engagement to a bilateral security partnership. The initial announcement of the agreement was delayed due to regional tensions related to Israel’s ongoing conflict with Gaza and the need to finalize details.

Farhad Alaaldin, foreign affairs adviser to Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, confirmed that technical discussions between the two nations had concluded. He noted that the new phase of the relationship would focus on expanding bilateral cooperation in military, security, economic, and cultural areas. The U.S.-led coalition had not responded to inquiries regarding the specifics of the agreement.

The plan follows months of negotiations, initiated by Prime Minister al-Sudani in January amid increased attacks on U.S. forces by Iran-backed Iraqi groups. These attacks, involving rockets and drones, resulted in the deaths of three American soldiers and led to retaliatory strikes by U.S. forces, complicating efforts to stabilize Iraq.

Currently, the U.S. maintains approximately 2,500 troops in Iraq and 900 in neighboring Syria as part of the coalition formed in 2014 to combat the Islamic State (IS). Although IS has been territorially defeated in both countries, U.S. forces have played a crucial role in ongoing operations against the group. The planned drawdown will involve the evacuation of coalition forces from the Ain al-Asad airbase in Anbar province and a significant reduction of troops in Baghdad by September 2025.

Some coalition troops are expected to remain in Erbil, the semi-autonomous Kurdistan region, until late 2026 to support operations against IS in Syria. The details of troop movements remain confidential due to their sensitive nature.

For Prime Minister al-Sudani, the agreement could provide a political advantage as he navigates Iraq’s delicate position between U.S. and Iranian interests. The first phase of the drawdown is set to conclude just before the Iraqi parliamentary elections in October 2025.