About our US-Iraq news
Latest news on US/Iraq, covering troop withdrawal, military relations, Iran-backed militias, ISIS, oil, sanctions, the 2003 invasion, and the 2026 Iran war.
The US-Iraq relationship is one of the most consequential and contentious in modern geopolitics, shaped by decades of war, occupation, diplomacy, and shifting strategic interests. Since the 2003 US-led invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein, Washington and Baghdad have been bound together through military cooperation, economic ties, and a shared interest in countering the Islamic State (ISIS). The bilateral relationship is governed in part by the US-Iraq Strategic Framework Agreement, which seeks to move the partnership beyond the battlefield toward political, economic, and cultural engagement.
The dominant issue in US-Iraq relations has been the phased withdrawal of American troops. Under a September 2024 agreement, the US-led coalition's mission in Iraq formally ended in 2025, with remaining forces relocating to bases in the semi-autonomous Kurdistan Region, including Hareer and Erbil. The US completed its withdrawal from al-Asad airbase in western Anbar province in January 2026, ending more than two decades of military presence in western Iraq. A residual American advisory presence remains in the Kurdistan Region, with the future of that deployment subject to ongoing negotiations between Baghdad, Erbil, and Washington.
Iraq has been dramatically affected by the 2026 Iran war, which erupted on 28 February when US and Israeli forces launched strikes against Iran. Pro-Iran groups, including the Islamic Resistance in Iraq and factions within the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), have carried out dozens of drone and missile attacks on US assets in Erbil and Baghdad, while the US has struck PMF positions across the country. Iraq's government, led by Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, has condemned attacks on its territory from all sides, insisting that Iraq should not be used as a battleground in a wider regional conflict. The near-closure of the Strait of Hormuz has devastated Iraq's oil-dependent economy, with exports falling by more than 70 percent and threatening the government with insolvency, given that oil revenues account for roughly 90 percent of state income.
Energy and economic ties form a critical dimension of the US-Iraq relationship. Iraq holds the world's fifth-largest proven crude oil reserves, and American companies including ExxonMobil have signed major development agreements with Baghdad. The US has also pushed Iraq to reduce its dependence on Iranian gas and electricity imports, revoking sanctions waivers and encouraging alternative energy partnerships with Turkey, Jordan, and Gulf states. Washington imposed a 30 percent tariff on Iraqi goods in 2025, prompting Baghdad to seek deeper commercial engagement with US firms as a diplomatic strategy.
The legacy of the 2003 invasion continues to shape the relationship profoundly. The US-led war and subsequent occupation dismantled Iraq's state institutions, triggered years of sectarian violence, and created the conditions for the rise of ISIS in 2014. At its peak, the US had approximately 169,000 troops in Iraq; today, the presence has shrunk to a fraction of that number. Iran's influence grew dramatically during this period, as Shia militia groups mobilised to fight ISIS and were later consolidated into the PMF, which remains embedded within Iraq's official security apparatus. Baghdad continues to walk a delicate line between its ties to Washington and its relationship with Tehran, a balancing act that the current regional conflict has made vastly more difficult.
Iraq's domestic political landscape adds further complexity, with power divided among Shia, Sunni, and Kurdish blocs. The Kurdistan Democratic Party and Patriotic Union of Kurdistan dominate the north, while Shia factions including the Coordination Framework and the Sadrist Movement compete for influence in Baghdad. Governance challenges persist, including endemic corruption, inadequate public services, and unresolved disputes over oil revenue sharing between the federal government and the Kurdistan Regional Government.
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