Anti-ISIL coalition's mission in Iraq to conclude in September, according to Iraqi statement

The U.S.-led Global Coalition against ISIL, established in September 2014 with 89 partner states and institutions, has been working tirelessly to eliminate the terror group's presence in Iraq and Syria. After several years of military operations, the coalition's mission in Iraq is set to enter a new phase.

The timeline for the withdrawal of the U.S.-led coalition from Iraq was announced in September 2024, with the first phase of troop withdrawal scheduled for the end of September 2022. By this time, the coalition will withdraw from Baghdad and Ain al-Asad airbase, marking a significant milestone in the transition of security responsibilities to Iraqi forces.

However, the coalition's presence in Iraq will not completely cease until September 2025. During this period, the focus will shift from combat operations to advisory roles and capacity-building for Iraqi security forces. This phase marks the beginning of a new era of security cooperation, where the coalition's role will be more supportive and less interventionist.

The Iraqi government, led by Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, is actively involved in this transition. Hussein Alawi, a senior advisor to the prime minister, has emphasized the government's commitment to implementing its official agenda, which includes building its armed forces and ending the coalition's mission. The government aims to transition security relations with coalition countries into stable bilateral defense partnerships governed by political, economic, and cultural ties.

Meanwhile, Iraqi authorities are excavating a mass grave believed to contain thousands of victims of ISIL near Mosul city. The exact number of victims remains unknown, but it is likely the largest mass grave left behind by ISIL in Iraq. The U.N. reported in 2018 that there are dozens of such mass graves scattered across the country.

The coalition's military presence in Syria will continue until September 2026 to prevent a resurgence of the ISIL threat. The name of the country where the second phase of the troop withdrawal of the Global Coalition against ISIL will take place in September 2026 is not publicly available at this time.

It is important to remember that in 2014, ISIL seized large swathes of Iraq and neighboring Syria, enforcing a strict interpretation of Islamic law and committing widespread abuses. Approximately 2,500 U.S. troops are currently stationed in Iraq as part of the mission. The excavation of the mass grave near Mosul city is ongoing, and the Iraqi government is dedicated to bringing justice to the victims and ensuring that such atrocities are never repeated.