US-led coalition formally ends Iraq combat mission after decade

The US-led coalition formally ended its mission in Iraq on Wednesday, nearly a decade after forces were deployed to combat the Islamic State group across Iraq and Syria. The conclusion of combat operations represents a major transition for American military engagement in the region, where US troops have maintained a significant presence since the 2003 invasion.

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps hailed the coalition's withdrawal as a historic victory, underscoring the geopolitical sensitivities surrounding the US military footprint in Iraq. The Iranian position reflects broader regional concerns about American military involvement in the Middle East.

The coalition's initial deployment in 2014 came in response to the rapid territorial expansion of the Islamic State group, which had captured large swathes of Iraq and Syria. Over the intervening years, the multinational force worked to degrade the militant organization's capabilities and train local security forces.

While combat operations have formally concluded, the nature and scope of any residual US military presence in Iraq remains to be clarified. The shift in mission status reflects changing security dynamics in the region as Iraqi security forces have taken on greater responsibility for counterterrorism operations.