Trump Orders U.S. Troops Out of Iraq by Sept. 30, 2026 as ISIS Rebuilds
Updated
Updated · Fox News · Jul 20
Trump Orders U.S. Troops Out of Iraq by Sept. 30, 2026 as ISIS Rebuilds
2 articles · Updated · Fox News · Jul 20
Summary
Sept. 30, 2026 is now the deadline for the last U.S. troops to leave Iraq, ending a 23-year American military presence announced after Trump’s meeting with Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi.
ISIS is quietly rebuilding ahead of the pullout, counterterrorism researcher Omar Mohammed said, warning the group could exploit gaps as Baghdad simultaneously tries to rein in Iran-backed militias.
10,000 ISIS fighters may now be in neighboring Syria, up from about 2,000 after Bashar Assad’s 2024 collapse, while Iraq’s Popular Mobilization Forces still field roughly 238,000 members with factions beyond full state control.
July 14 White House talks that confirmed the withdrawal drew condemnation from Tehran, which analysts say fears losing leverage if Baghdad disarms militias and U.S. forces leave on Iraqi rather than Iranian terms.
The withdrawal follows a 2024 U.S.-Iraq agreement to end the mission in Iraq, reviving fears of a repeat of 2014, when ISIS seized Mosul after security institutions and outside attention weakened.
As US troops exit, can Baghdad disarm powerful militias before a resurgent ISIS fills the void?
With US troops gone, who will win the battle for Iraq: the state, the militias, or a reborn ISIS?
End of a 23-Year U.S. Military Presence in Iraq: Regional Security, Economic Shifts, and the Road Ahead
Overview
The United States began its military engagement in Iraq with the 2003 invasion, leading to a long and complex presence in the country. After most U.S. combat forces withdrew in December 2011 under an agreement from the Obama administration, American troops returned in 2014 at Baghdad’s invitation to help fight the Islamic State, which had seized large areas in Iraq and Syria. Since then, the U.S. mission shifted to training and advising Iraqi forces, gradually handing over security responsibilities. Now, the U.S. is set to fully withdraw by September 2026, marking a major transition in Iraq’s security and regional dynamics.