Iraq's government confirmed that U.S.-led coalition forces are preparing to withdraw from the Kurdistan region and transfer bases to Iraqi forces before a September 30 deadline, a transition that coincides with Baghdad's ultimatum to Iran-backed militias to disarm or face terrorism charges.
Government spokesman Haider Al Aboudi said coordination is ongoing with the international coalition and work is under way to inventory the sites and hand them over to Iraqi forces. "The work is proceeding at an organised pace towards completing this file on September 30 and these sites will be in the custody of Iraqi security agencies," he said. The deadline was agreed by Baghdad and Washington in 2024 as part of a broader agreement to transform the coalition's mission from combat and advisory roles to bilateral security cooperation.
The Security Handover
Kurdistan hosts several key coalition sites used for training, logistics and air operations against ISIS remnants. Local officials reported unusual movement of U.S. forces in the Kurdistan Region in recent days, including convoys and equipment transfers observed in Erbil earlier this month. Al Aboudi said planning was under way at the highest military level and that coordination teams from both sides were meeting regularly to ensure the process was completed without disruption. He didn't specify the number of sites being transferred or personnel leaving.
The Pentagon hasn't publicly detailed its withdrawal plan for the Kurdistan Region, but U.S. officials have previously said any transition would be done in coordination with the Iraqi government and wouldn't leave gaps in the fight against ISIS. Prime Minister Ali Al Zaidi's government has framed the transition as a step toward full Iraqi sovereignty over security matters while maintaining that cooperation with the U.S. and other coalition partners would continue in air defense, intelligence and counter-terrorism.
Security analysts said the handover carries operational and political weight because Iraqi forces will assume responsibility for bases previously used by coalition trainers, and because the move answers long-standing demands from factions in parliament for a clear timeline for the end of the coalition's presence. The withdrawal marks the third year since Baghdad and Washington agreed on the deadline, a timeline that reflects both Iraqi political pressure and the coalition's assessment that ISIS no longer poses the territorial threat it did at its peak.
The Militia Question
The Iraqi government has also set a September 30 deadline for the disarmament of Iran-backed militias. Al Aboudi said the process of bringing their weapons under state control is "complex," but said the dialogue is ongoing and under the direct supervision of the Prime Minister. He said the government had received significant support from Iraq's leading political force, which issued its strongest warning yet to militias that failure to comply with the September 30 deadline would result in terrorism charges.
The warning came after a meeting late on Wednesday of the State Administration Coalition, a group of top Shiite, Sunni and Kurdish political parties that form the government. Al Aboudi acknowledged "concerns and reservations" about the process but said the government is moving deliberately and "is proceeding in an organised manner and with measured steps until we reach September 30." He added, "After September 30, the final word will be with Iraqi law and the constitution. The state will be the one holding the force."
What Comes Next
The dual deadlines — one for American withdrawal, one for militia disarmament — create a compressed timeline that will test whether Baghdad can assert control over armed groups that have operated outside state authority for years. The militias, many of which receive funding and direction from Tehran, have resisted previous disarmament efforts and maintain independent command structures. Whether Iraq's political coalition can enforce its ultimatum without triggering internal conflict remains the critical question as September 30 approaches.
Why This Matters:
The withdrawal of U.S. forces from Iraqi Kurdistan and the simultaneous disarmament deadline for Iran-backed militias will determine whether Iraq can consolidate state control over security or fragment into competing armed camps. If Baghdad fails to enforce the militia deadline, the departure of coalition forces could leave a vacuum that Tehran-aligned groups exploit, undermining the government's sovereignty and threatening the fragile political balance that has held since ISIS's territorial defeat. The transition also tests whether Iraqi forces can maintain pressure on ISIS remnants without coalition air support and training infrastructure. For Washington, the withdrawal reflects both Iraqi political demands and a strategic calculation that the counter-ISIS mission has shifted from combat operations to intelligence sharing. But if the militia question isn't resolved, Iraq risks becoming a theater for proxy conflict rather than a sovereign state controlling its own territory.