Where Sources Agree

• arrows_inputMission Conclusion Confirmed: Various sources establish that the United States has officially concluded Operation Inherent Resolve and completed its military withdrawal from Iraq, ending a 12-year counter-ISIS mission and a 23-year total military presence in the country, according to the Pentagon and U.S. Central Command.
• arrows_inputPost-Withdrawal Security Risks: Several reports converge on concerns regarding potential security gaps following the U.S. withdrawal, specifically citing the persistence of ISIS sleeper cells and the removal of U.S. air defense systems in the Kurdish region, according to security officials and analysts.
• arrows_inputU.S. Iraq Withdrawal Finalized: Multiple accounts detail the completion of the U.S. military withdrawal from Iraq, which marks the end of the 12-year Operation Inherent Resolve mission against the Islamic State, citing the Pentagon and U.S. Central Command.

Where Sources Disagree

• arrows_outputPost-Withdrawal Security Readiness: Iraqi and U.S. officials maintain that Iraqi security forces possess the operational capability to independently contain ISIS remnants and uphold stability. Conversely, regional analysts and local Kurdish officials warn that the withdrawal creates a dangerous security vacuum, risking a resurgence of militant groups and increased influence from Iran-backed militias.
• arrows_outputWithdrawal Strategic Outcome: U.S. officials and the Iraqi Prime Minister describe the military withdrawal as a decisive, orderly victory that restores Iraq's sovereignty and solidifies state control. In contrast, some analysts and observers view the departure as an inglorious ending that risks creating a security vacuum and emboldening Iran-backed militias.
• arrows_outputStatus of Militia Disarmament Deadlines: Reports differ slightly on the status of militia disarmament deadlines, with some citing September 30 as the cutoff, while others note the timeline was extended to June 2027.