President Trump on Wednesday hailed the complete withdrawal of American forces and equipment from Erbil Air Base in Iraq, ending Operation Inherent Resolve, which was launched under the Obama administration.
“This day is a victory for the United States. It’s a victory for Iraq and a decisive victory over ISIS, which has been completely decimated, which is the reason we went in there in the first place,” Mr. Trump said in remarks at the White House to kick off a Hispanic Heritage Month celebration.
“We came to fight a caliphate and there is no longer a caliphate, so we are going home,” he said.
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The president said Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi “is outstanding” and capable of running the country without U.S. intervention.
Mr. Trump also emphasized that not a single piece of equipment was left behind. He noted that during the chaotic 2021 withdrawal from Afghanistan under President Biden, the U.S. military left behind $7.12 billion worth of equipment that fell into the hands of the Taliban.
Among the military assets left behind were over 40,000 tactical and military vehicles, including roughly 12,000 Humvees valued at $4.13 billion, 78 abandoned aircraft worth about $923 million and over 300,000 small arms.
“I said, ’I want every screw taken. If there’s a screw lying on the ground, take it. If we have a canvas tent, take it.’ We took everything,” Mr. Trump said of Iraq.
The departure of U.S. troops and equipment for Iraq closes the book on the mission launched by President Obama in 2014 against ISIS. A U.S.-led task force aimed at countering ISIS is relocating its headquarters to Jordan and operations will continue in Syria. Roughly 4,00 troops will remain in Jordan.
The Pentagon said earlier Wednesday that the U.S. will continue to provide targeted training and intelligence support to Iraqi forces after the withdrawal. In contrast, Iraqi security forces will take the lead against any ISIS militants remaining in the country.
Roughly 1,500 American and coalition forces carrying out actions against ISIS were stationed at Erbil Air Base, which was located in northern Iraq, according to CENTCOM.
U.S. forces began leaving Iraq last summer as the two countries shifted their relationship toward a more bilateral defense pact. The withdrawal followed an agreement reached by President Biden in 2024 and carried out under Mr. Trump.
• This story is based in part on wire service reports.
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