U.S. forces have begun their withdrawal from the Joint Operations Command headquarters located in Baghdad’s heavily fortified Green Zone, marking the end of a continuous 22-year military presence in the heart of Iraq’s capital. The move is part of a broader withdrawal agreement signed between Washington and Baghdad in July of last year, which outlines a phased departure of U.S. troops from most of the country.
The withdrawal from the Green Zone officially started on August 31, though U.S. forces had already begun drawing down their presence at al-Assad Airbase in Anbar Province and The Victory Base Complex at the Baghdad International Airport in the days leading up to the end of August. Under the terms of the deal, U.S. troops are expected to leave all bases in Iraq outside of the Kurdistan region by September 2025, with the final withdrawal from Erbil scheduled for September 2026.
The Green Zone—also known as the International Zone—is a 10-square-kilometer district in central Baghdad established in 2003 following the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq. It has served as a strategic and political hub, hosting the U.S. Embassy, various military facilities, international organizations, non-governmental organizations, and key Iraqi government offices including the Council of Ministers and the Iraqi Parliament.
After the first major U.S. withdrawal in 2011, a residual American military contingent remained in the Green Zone. However, following the rise of ISIS in 2014, U.S. forces redeployed to several bases across Iraq to assist in combating the extremist group, under an agreement with the Iraqi government. This renewed presence continued until the 2023 agreement set the timeline for a final withdrawal.
The departure from the Green Zone symbolizes a turning point in U.S.-Iraq relations, shifting the focus from direct military involvement to a more advisory and diplomatic role. It also reflects growing Iraqi pressure for greater sovereignty and control over its own security environment.