NEW DELHI: The United States has completed the withdrawal of all American troops from Iraq, formally ending its 12-year military mission against the Islamic State (ISIS), according to the US military and an Associated Press report.

The final US troops and equipment departed Erbil Air Base in northern Iraq on September 30, marking the conclusion of Operation Inherent Resolve in Iraq. The withdrawal was carried out under an agreement between Washington and Baghdad to transition from the US-led coalition mission to a bilateral defence relationship.

The US-led coalition returned to Iraq in 2014 after ISIS seized large areas of the country. The campaign helped Iraqi forces defeat the group as a territorial military force, although ISIS continues to maintain sleeper cells in parts of the country.

Following the withdrawal, the US-led coalition's Iraq mission has formally ended, while the broader counter-ISIS task remains active from Jordan, including operations in Syria alongside partner forces.

The departure marks a significant change in Iraq's security landscape. Iraqi authorities have welcomed the end of the foreign military mission, while some officials and analysts have raised concerns about the potential resurgence of ISIS and the influence of Iran-backed armed groups