World · Published September 30, 2026 at 12:00 PM CDT
US Completes Troop Withdrawal From Iraq, Ending Anti-ISIS Mission
What everyone agrees on
- U.S. forces completed their withdrawal from Iraq.
- The withdrawal was announced on Wednesday.
- The move ends Operation Inherent Resolve, the U.S. mission against ISIS.
- The withdrawal follows an agreement reached two years earlier.
Each fact above was reported by outlets on the left, center and right.
How each side framed it
Left-leaning outlets · 4
Left-leaning outlets focused on the uncertain future for Iraq, noting mixed reactions among Iraqis and Iraq's position between U.S. and Iranian influence.
Center-leaning outlets · 3
Center-leaning outlets emphasized official statements from U.S. Central Command and the Iraqi government, including the departure of coalition forces from Erbil Air Base and Baghdad's framing of the withdrawal as a sign of growing sovereignty.
Right-leaning outlets · 1
The right-leaning outlet reported the withdrawal factually, highlighting the 23-year span since the initial U.S. invasion and the formal end of the mission.
Still disputed
- Outlets differ on the timeframe cited: some describe a 12-year mission (Operation Inherent Resolve), while one outlet references 23 years since the original 2003 invasion.
- Only center-leaning coverage mentions the departure of UK troops alongside U.S. forces.
Read the original reporting
- Left CBS News U.S. withdraws from Iraq, declaring an end to major anti-ISIS operation Free to read
- Left NPR U.S. forces exit Iraq amid Iran war. And, SCOTUS revives Trump deportation policy Free to read
- Left The Guardian (US) Pentagon says it has formally completed withdrawal of US troops from Iraq Free to read
- Left The New York Times After Two Decades, U.S. Forces Leave Iraq to an Uncertain Future A few free articles a month
- Center BBC News Last UK and US troops leave Iraq as anti-Islamic State mission ends Free to read
- Center PBS NewsHour U.S. military says its withdrawal of troops from Iraq for Islamic State fight is complete Free to read
- Center The Hill US ends military mission in Iraq Free to read
- Right The Daily Wire U.S. Forces Withdraw From Iraq After 23 Years Free to read
See a mistake?
A simple way to report a wrong or missing fact, with no sign-up, is coming soon. Every correction will be listed publicly.
This page was written by AI from each outlet's headline and short description, following our published rules. Always check the original reporting.