What ended at Erbil
US Central Command announced the completed departure as part of a planned transition to a bilateral defense relationship with Iraq. The change follows the withdrawal framework agreed by Washington and Baghdad in 2024.
The mission ending now began in 2014, when ISIS seized large areas of Iraq and Syria. Its 12 year duration should not be confused with the entire history of American military involvement in Iraq, which included the 2003 invasion, a withdrawal in 2011 and a subsequent return to fight ISIS.
Iraqi forces take the lead
The Pentagon said Washington would continue providing targeted training and intelligence support. Iraqi forces will lead efforts to address the country’s remaining security threats.
That division of responsibility was outlined before the departure. In an interview published by Rudaw on September 19, CENTCOM spokesman Captain Tim Hawkins said Iraqi security forces, the Peshmerga and other Kurdish forces would lead the fight against terrorist remnants, while American forces elsewhere in the region would remain available to respond to threats.
The task force continues from Jordan
CENTCOM said the combined task force remains operational and is now headquartered in Jordan. American forces continue the counter-ISIS mission in Syria with coalition partners and the Syrian government.
The distinction matters for what comes next. Ending the coalition mission inside Iraq changes the location and leadership of the effort; it does not announce an end to the wider campaign against ISIS. Baghdad assumes the lead at home while Washington says a narrower security partnership will continue.
