Iran Press/West Asia: He confirmed that both nations have agreed on a two-phase withdrawal plan over the next two years.
According to a Sunday report by Iraq’s Al-Rabia TV network, al-Abbasi stated that Iraqi and U.S. committees reached an agreement regarding the withdrawal of U.S. forces and the continuation of their security partnership. He emphasized that both sides agreed to end the mission of the international coalition forces, with the first phase of withdrawal starting this year and continuing until 2025, while the second phase will conclude by 2026.
The defense minister added that U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin had proposed extending the withdrawal period by an additional year, arguing that two years would not be enough. However, Iraq rejected this proposal.
Recently, Reuters also reported that the U.S. and Iraq had reached a consensus after six months of negotiations concerning the withdrawal of U.S.-led coalition forces. According to sources, under the terms of the agreement, hundreds of Western troops will leave Iraq by September 2025, with the remaining forces departing by the end of 2026.
A senior U.S. official confirmed the agreement, stating that the only issue left is deciding when to announce it. The U.S. and Iraq are also working on establishing a new advisory relationship, which will allow some U.S. forces to remain in Iraq.
While the agreement was initially expected to be announced weeks ago, it was delayed due to escalating tensions in Gaza and the need to finalize certain details. Sources suggest the agreement could be made public later this month.
Farhad Alaaldin, Foreign Affairs Advisor to Iraq’s Prime Minister, stated that technical negotiations with Washington had concluded. "We are on the verge of transitioning Iraq's relationship with the international coalition to a new level, focusing on bilateral ties in military, security, economic, and cultural fields," he said.
Currently, the U.S. has approximately 2,500 troops stationed in Iraq and 900 in Syria as part of the coalition against ISIS. As per the plan, all coalition forces will vacate the Al-Asad Airbase in western Anbar province, with a significant reduction in Baghdad by September 2025. However, U.S. troops and coalition forces are expected to remain in Erbil until late 2026 to support ongoing anti-ISIS operations in Syria.
Whenever the agreement is officially announced, it will be seen as a political victory for Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, as he navigates Baghdad’s position as an ally of both Washington and Tehran. The first phase of foreign troop reduction is set to conclude just a month before Iraq’s parliamentary elections in October 2025.
A U.S. official noted that the two-year timeline provides a "breathing space" for Washington to adjust its troop reduction strategy in line with any potential regional developments.
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