U.S. Central Command (Centcom) confirmed on Wednesday that the United States has concluded its 12-year military mission in Iraq. The final phase of this withdrawal involved the departure of all U.S. personnel and equipment from Erbil Air Base in the northern part of the country. This move serves as the final step in a yearlong process to wind down Operation Inherent Resolve, the coalition effort established to combat the Islamic State.

According to official statements, the end of this specific mission does not signify a total cessation of U.S. involvement in the region. Instead, the U.S. government describes the transition as a move toward a new bilateral defense relationship with Iraq. While the military mission is officially over, the long-term implications for regional security and the specific nature of this new bilateral agreement remain subjects of ongoing discussion among policy analysts. The transition reflects a broader strategic shift in how the U.S. intends to maintain its security interests in the Middle East while moving away from the operational framework that defined the last decade of engagement in Iraq.