US, Iraq reach preliminary agreement on troop withdrawal Final authorization pending

The United States and Iraq have reached a preliminary agreement on the phased withdrawal of US-led coalition forces from Iraqi territory, with a complete withdrawal expected by the end of 2026. 

The plan, which involves a staged reduction of troops, is set to begin with the withdrawal of hundreds of US military personnel by September next year, with the remaining forces scheduled to exit by late 2026, Caliber.Az reports per foreign media.

The broadly agreed-upon plan still awaits final authorization from both Washington and Baghdad. The announcement of the agreement remains pending, with the possibility of a formal declaration later this month. 
A senior US official confirmed that the announcement had been delayed due to recent regional escalations, including Israeli military actions in Gaza, and ongoing negotiations to finalize the details.

Additionally, discussions are ongoing about establishing a new consultative relationship between the US and Iraq, which might include the presence of some US troops in the country even after the full drawdown is completed.

Farhad Alaaldin, Iraq PM Advisor for Foreign Affairs, indicated that technical talks on the coalition's reduction have been concluded but refrained from providing specific details. The forthcoming agreement marks a significant step in reshaping the US-Iraq military relationship and addressing evolving security dynamics in the region.