President Trump announced the complete withdrawal of U.S. military forces from Iraq, ending the two-decade mission. The agreement formed two years ago comes 23 years after the Iraq War.
The U.S. military announced on Wednesday that it has completed the withdrawal of all American troops from Iraq, ending a 12-year mission to fight the Islamic State group. The last U.S. troops left an air base in northern Iraq under a deal between Baghdad and Washington.
“It’s a victory for the United States, it’s a victory for Iraq and a decisive victory over ISIS, which has been completely decimated,” Trump said speaking at a Hispanic Heritage Month event at the White House on Wednesday.
The police escort as the last US soldiers leave.
Trump’s comments echoed those in a Truth Social post before the event.
“I had a choice to stay or to leave, and felt, without question, that it was time for America to go home!” the president wrote.
He also voiced his support for Iraq’s Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi, who was elected to his post in May. Al-Zaidi met with Trump at the White House in July.
Trump’s comments come after U.S. Central Command (Centcom) announced the departure of U.S. forces from Iraq, marking an end to its 12-year military mission.
CENTCOM said all U.S. forces and military equipment left Erbil Air Base in the country’s north and that a “transition to a U.S.-Iraq bilateral defense relationship” would begin.
Iraq is increasing in strength and sovereignty, but not all Iraqis are pleased, especially in the Kurdish region where they see signs of an ISIS resurgence.