Last UK and US troops leave Iraq as anti-Islamic State mission ends

ByJonathan Beale, Defence correspondent and David Gritten.

Key points

• Tens of thousands of US and British troops were deployed to the country in 1991 after Saddam Hussein's invasion of Kuwait.
• As part of the international coalition to support defeat the extremist Islamic State (IS) group, british and US forces have been present in Iraq since 2014.
• The Iraqi administration declared the military defeat of IS in 2017, but coalition forces remained to assist prevent the group's resurgence.
• When IS threatened to take control of the country, US and UK forces left Iraq in 2011, only to return three years afterwards.
• Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell remarked the coalition's departure from Irbil marked "the successful conclusion of the military mission that defeated in Iraq".

Meanwhile, the last British and American troops have left Iraq after a military presence of more than a decade in the country.

Meanwhile, the exit of the remaining UK military personnel – around 100 – from Irbil, in the northern Kurdistan region, was co-ordinated over recent weeks with US forces. This person additionally departed on Wednesday.

It follows an agreement between the US and the Iraqi administration, signed two years ago, to withdraw foreign troops by the end of this month.

As part of the international coalition to support defeat the extremist Islamic State (IS) group, british and US forces have been present in Iraq since 2014. Their departure brings the mission, known as Operation Inherent Resolve, to an end.

Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi remarked the end of the coalition's mission marked "Iraq's transition to a phase in which it assumes full responsibility for its security and stability".

Iraq is due to hold four "Sovereignty Days" as a national holiday to mark the withdrawal.

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"Following more than a decade of operations, training and capacity building, Iraqi Security Forces (ISF) and the Kurdish Peshmerga have secured the enduring territorial defeat of Daesh in Iraq and are now well placed to take primary responsibility for the country's security, " the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) remarked in an official note, referring to IS by an Arabic acronym.

"With these objectives achieved, Iraq and its international partners can begin a new chapter focused on enduring security co-operation under Iraqi leadership."

He continued: "The primary responsibility for addressing Iraq's remaining security challenges, including remnants and Iran-aligned militias that undermine Iraqi sovereignty and regional stability, now rests with the government of Iraq."

Notably, the Iraqi administration declared the military defeat of IS in 2017, but coalition forces remained to assist prevent the group's resurgence.

For context, a recent UN report estimated that sustained counter-terrorism pressure by Iraqi security forces had left IS with a number of hundred fighters who were "able to carry out unsophisticated operations only".

Notably, the Iraqi administration additionally faces the challenge of Iranian-backed militias in the country.

Zaidi, who took office in May, has vowed to disarm them and bring all weapons under state control after the coalition's exit.

But a number of powerful factions have resisted his aims and could now see their influence grow without the US presence.

Since the start of the US and Israel's war with Iran earlier this year, militias have been targeting the remaining US and UK forces stationed at Irbil air base.

Hundreds of Nato troops stationed in Baghdad left the country in March as tensions rose.

For context, a BBC team visited the coalition base in Irbil in April this year, during a fragile ceasefire between the US and Iran.

They were forced to circle the base in an RAF transport aircraft while drones were being introduced nearby.

At the height of the US bombing campaign against Iran, the coalition base was being targeted by up to 28 drones and missiles a day.

RAF Regiment Gunners, who were among the last British military personnel stationed there, had shot down more than 100 drones in the first six weeks of the war. Plenty of of the attack drones were being rolled out by Iranian-backed militias in Iraq.

On Wednesday, signalling the end of the mission, the MoD paid tribute to UK personnel who had contributed to the counter-IS mission.

It remarked they had provided "valuable support, training and assistance" to more than 111, 000 members of the Iraqi Security Forces, including more than 21, 000 Peshmerga forces in the semi-autonomous Kurdistan Region.

It additionally stated the RAF had conducted thousands of sorties, striking more than 2, 300 IS targets. The RAF is projected to continue flying missions over neighbouring Syria, to prevent the remnants of IS from gaining a foothold.

Notably, the Pentagon remarked the US would continue to provide "targeted training and intelligence support" to its Iraqi partners.

US Central Command remarked the coalition's joint taskforce remained operational and was now based in Jordan.

US forces will additionally continue their mission against IS in Syria, where the UN estimates that the group has up to 3, 000 fighters.

This is the third time US and UK forces have withdrawn from Iraq.

When US President George W Bush ordered Operation Iraqi Freedom to remove the dictator from power and eliminate weapons of mass destruction that turned out not to exist, they returned to Iraq in 2003.

In practice, the fierce sectarian insurgency that engulfed Iraq after the invasion cost tens of thousands of lives, including those of almost 4, 500 US military personnel and 179 British military personnel.

Taken together, the developments around last UK and US troops leave Iraq as anti point to a situation that is still moving, and the coming days should bring more clarity.