ERBIL, Iraq — The last British and American troops have left Iraq, ending more than a decade of coalition military presence against the Islamic State group under a two-year withdrawal agreement with Baghdad, BBC News reported.
About 100 remaining UK personnel departed Erbil in the Kurdistan region in coordination with U.S. forces on Wednesday, bringing Operation Inherent Resolve’s Iraq mission to a close. Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi said the end of the coalition mission marked “Iraq’s transition to a phase in which it assumes full responsibility for its security and stability.” Baghdad declared four “Sovereignty Days” as a national holiday from Sept. 30 to Oct. 3.
The UK Ministry of Defence said Iraqi Security Forces and the Kurdish Peshmerga had secured the enduring territorial defeat of IS in Iraq and were “well placed to take primary responsibility.” Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell called the Erbil departure “the successful conclusion of the military mission that defeated [IS] in Iraq.” A recent UN report estimated IS retained several hundred fighters able to carry out unsophisticated operations under sustained pressure. Al Jazeera noted coalition advisers had earlier completed withdrawal from federal areas while logistical support for Syria operations had continued via Erbil.
Sources: BBC News, Al Jazeera with AP and Reuters
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