Iraq expects international coalition mission to end by late September

BAGHDAD, Iraq — The Iraqi government plans to complete the International Coalition's mission against ISIS by the end of September 2026 and to see foreign forces leave the country. A 30 September deadline has been set for the withdrawal of coalition forces, according to the announcement. Iraqi officials have argued that Iraqi forces have reached a capacity to counter ISIS independently, the statement said. The transition has been under preparation since 2024, shifting from a coalition mission to a bilateral security relationship that U.S. documents describe as a change of mission rather than an end to the relationship. The same 30 September date has been designated as a milestone for bringing weapons under state control. Officials have said the central question now is whether Iraq can secure its borders, manage its internal decision-making independently and withstand regional pressure without relying on external forces. The coalition, led by the United States, was formed in 2014 to defeat ISIS after the group seized large parts of Iraq and Syria. No further details on the withdrawal timeline were immediately available.