US and Iraq agree on withdrawal of troops by end of 2026 - Reuters
US Army troops (photo: Getty Images)
Preliminary agreements have been reached between Washington and Baghdad regarding the withdrawal of US-led coalition forces from Iraq. This is to be carried out in several stages, with the complete withdrawal expected by the end of 2026, reports Reuters.
According to sources from a Western news agency, the plan involves the withdrawal of US troops in the first year (with a deadline of September next year), initially involving hundreds of US military personnel, with the remaining forces to be withdrawn by the end of 2026.
However, it is noted that the overall agreed plan still requires final approval from both capitals, and the date of the announcement remains open.
"We have an agreement, its now just a question of when to announce it," a senior U.S. official told Reuters.
There is a possibility that the agreement could be announced this month.
The official announcement was initially planned for a few weeks ago but was delayed due to regional escalation related to Israel's military actions in the Gaza Strip and, according to sources, to clarify some details.
Additionally, Reuters reports that the US and Iraq also aim to establish new advisory relations, which could allow some American troops to remain in Iraq after the drawdown.
"The sources include five US officials, two officials from other coalition nations, and three Iraqi officials, all speaking on condition of anonymity as they were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly," the report states.
According to Farhad Farhad, foreign affairs adviser to the Iraqi prime minister, technical negotiations with Washington on reducing the coalition have concluded. However, he did not disclose the details of the plan.
US military presence in the Middle East
The US currently has approximately 2,500 troops in Iraq and 900 in neighboring Syria as part of a coalition formed in 2014 to combat the terrorist organization ISIS, which attacked these two Middle Eastern countries.
The US previously invaded Iraq in 2003, toppling the dictator Saddam Hussein, and withdrew its troops in 2011. However, due to ISIS, US-led coalition forces returned to Iraq three years later.
Negotiations on troop withdrawal
Last year, Iraqi Prime Minister Al Sudani initiated an agreement to withdraw American troops from the country, which was finalized after more than six months of negotiations between Baghdad and Washington in January.
This occurred amid attacks by Iran-backed militants on US forces stationed at Iraqi bases.
Missile and drone attacks resulted in the deaths of three US servicemembers and injuries to dozens more. This led to several American retaliatory strikes.
