The United States has agreed to demands by Iraq for the removal of their military forces from the Middle Eastern country, according to a report by Reuters.
Sources informed the news outlet that most of the 2,500 U.S. troops deployed in Iraq since the beginning of operations against the Islamic State's resurgence a decade ago will be withdrawn by September 2025. The remaining personnel are anticipated to leave by the end of 2026 at the latest.
"We have an agreement; it’s now just a question of when to announce it," a senior U.S. representative was quoted as saying.
The official declaration was reportedly scheduled to take place earlier this summer, but the decision was postponed because of security concerns related to the war in Gaza.
The desire to reduce the U.S. presence within Iraq’s borders comes as the nation’s Prime Minister, Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, is under increasing pressure from Tehran-backed factions in his government to diminish Washington’s presence in the region.
Related Story: Government in Baghdad Wants U.S. Forces Out of Iraq by 2025: Report
