{"id":1258,"date":"2026-07-14T20:39:05","date_gmt":"2026-07-14T20:39:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blueroutejournal.com\/?p=1258"},"modified":"2026-07-14T20:39:05","modified_gmt":"2026-07-14T20:39:05","slug":"trump-announces-u-s-forces-to-withdraw-from-iraq-after-23-years","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blueroutejournal.com\/?p=1258","title":{"rendered":"Trump Announces U.S. Forces To Withdraw From Iraq After 23 Years"},"content":{"rendered":"<div>\n<div>\n<p><span>More than two decades after the United States invaded Iraq, American forces are set to complete their withdrawal from the country by September 30, Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi announced Tuesday during an Oval Office meeting with President Donald Trump.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Read more <a href=\"https:\/\/blueroutejournal.com\/?p=1256\">After Cuba Trip, Dems Blame U.S. For Turning Communist Island Into \u2018Silent Gaza\u2019<\/a><\/p>\n<p><span>\u201cOn the 30th of September, the U.S. forces will be out of Iraq while these [U.S.] companies will be inside Iraq,\u201d al-Zaidi said through an interpreter. \u201cThe social relations is about the economy, not about military relations.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>The announcement marks the end of a military presence that began with the U.S.-led invasion in 2003 and evolved through years of insurgency, sectarian violence, counterterrorism operations, and the fight against ISIS. More than 4,400 U.S. service members died in Iraq during the war and its aftermath.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Trump welcomed the new relationship, arguing that Iraq no longer requires a significant U.S. military presence and that the future between the two countries should instead focus on economic cooperation.<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>Trump says U.S. troops are no longer needed in Iraq.<\/p>\n<p>U.S. troop levels in Iraq peaked at about 170,000 during the Iraq War. Most forces left in 2011, though several thousand returned in 2014 to help fight ISIS.<\/p>\n<p>Roughly 2,000 troops remain today. pic.twitter.com\/yDa0uMYpwf<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Kassy Akiva (@KassyAkiva) July 14, 2026<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><span>\u201cWe don\u2019t think we need the military there anymore,\u201d Trump said. \u201cWe\u2019re there to help them. We\u2019re there to protect them if need be. But we don\u2019t think that\u2019s going to be necessary.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>The withdrawal follows a 2024 agreement that began winding down the United States-led military mission in Iraq. While most troops departed beginning in September 2025, U.S. forces remained in advisory roles and continued supporting operations against ISIS. Many of those personnel were stationed in Iraq\u2019s semi-autonomous Kurdistan region.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>U.S. troop levels in Iraq peaked at roughly 170,000 in 2007. Most U.S. forces left in 2011 before approximately 5,000 troops returned in 2014 to combat ISIS. Prior to the latest drawdown, about 2,500 U.S. troops remained in the country.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Trump suggested the changing security environment in the Middle East also made a continued U.S. military presence less necessary, arguing that Iran \u2014 long viewed as a major destabilizing force in the region \u2014 has been significantly weakened by recent U.S. and Israeli military operations.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Instead, Trump emphasized the opportunities Iraq\u2019s oil sector presents for U.S. businesses and investments.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>\u201cIraq has tremendous potential because of their oil and because of other things, but because of their oil, and we\u2019re going to be doing a lot of deals,\u201d he added. \u201cWe\u2019re going to create a lot of jobs for both countries, and we\u2019re going to be taking out a lot of oil. A lot of oil is coming out.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Read more <a href=\"https:\/\/blueroutejournal.com\/?p=1254\">Obama-Appointed Justice Has Only Kind Words For Lindsey Graham<\/a><\/p>\n<p><span>According to <\/span><span>The Associated Press<\/span><span>, Iraq is expected to sign an agreement with Chevron, TI Capital, and Qatar\u2019s UCC to construct a major oil pipeline connecting Basra in southern Iraq to Haditha in western Iraq and onward to Turkey\u2019s Ceyhan port and Syria\u2019s Baniyas port. The pipeline is projected to transport roughly 2 million barrels of oil per day.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Al-Zaidi, a 41-year-old banker and businessman from Baghdad, took office earlier this year after receiving backing from Trump, who favored him over former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, a longtime Iraqi political figure accused by critics of maintaining close ties to Iran.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>The visit marked al-Zaidi\u2019s first trip to the United States. Opening the meeting, he conveyed greetings from \u201cthe oldest civilization in the world\u201d and stressed that Iraqi security forces would be capable of defending the country after the U.S. withdrawal.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Trump repeatedly praised the Iraqi leader throughout the meeting and their \u201ctremendous chemistry.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>\u201cMark my words, I knew what I was doing,\u201d Trump said. \u201cThis man is going to be a great leader in the Middle East, beyond Iraq. His influence is going to spread all throughout the Middle East.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>In his first speech before parliament, al-Zaidi pledged to disarm militia groups operating outside Iraqi state control.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>On June 15, he and U.S. Special Envoy for Iraq Tom Barrack issued a joint statement outlining plans for the \u201ccomplete disarmament and disbandment of all armed groups and formations operating outside the authority and control of the Iraqi state,\u201d later giving them until the end of September to comply.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>The issue remains politically sensitive in Iraq, where some powerful factions maintain close ties to Tehran. Earlier this month, the body of Iran\u2019s late supreme leader, Ayatollah Khamenei, was brought into Iraq during a multi-day funeral procession \u2014 a reminder of Iran\u2019s continuing influence among segments of the Iraqi population.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>At one point during the meeting, Trump referenced the 2020 U.S. strike in Baghdad that killed Iranian General Qassem Soleimani. Al-Zaidi declined to revisit the controversy.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>\u201cAt that time, I wasn\u2019t involved in politics,\u201d he said. \u201cLet\u2019s talk about the future.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Read more <a href=\"https:\/\/blueroutejournal.com\/?p=1252\">Trump Splits With FBI, Questions Decision To Probe Lindsey Graham\u2019s Death<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>More than two decades after the United States invaded Iraq, American forces are set to complete their withdrawal from the country by September 30, Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi announced Tuesday during an Oval Office meeting with President Donald Trump.\u201cOn the 30th of September, the U.S. forces will be out of Iraq while these [U.S.] companies will be inside Iraq,\u201d al-Zaidi said through an interpreter. \u201cThe social relations is about the economy, not about military relations.\u201dThe announcement marks the end of a military presence that began with the U.S.-led invasion in 2003 and evolved through years of insurgency, sectarian violence, counterterrorism operations, and the fight against ISIS. More than 4,400 U.S. service members died in Iraq during the war and its aftermath.Trump welcomed the new relationship, arguing that Iraq no longer requires a significant U.S. military presence and that the future between the two countries should instead focus on economic cooperation.Trump says U.S. troops are no longer needed in Iraq.U.S. troop levels in Iraq peaked at about 170,000 during the Iraq War. Most forces left in 2011, though several thousand returned in 2014 to help fight ISIS.Roughly 2,000 troops remain today. pic.twitter.com\/yDa0uMYpwf\u2014 Kassy Akiva (@KassyAkiva) July 14, 2026\u201cWe don\u2019t think we need the military there anymore,\u201d Trump said. \u201cWe\u2019re there to help them. We\u2019re there to protect them if need be. But we don\u2019t think that\u2019s going to be necessary.\u201dThe withdrawal follows a 2024 agreement that began winding down the United States-led military mission in Iraq. While most troops departed beginning in September 2025, U.S. forces remained in advisory roles and continued supporting operations against ISIS. Many of those personnel were stationed in Iraq\u2019s semi-autonomous Kurdistan region.U.S. troop levels in Iraq peaked at roughly 170,000 in 2007. Most U.S. forces left in 2011 before approximately 5,000 troops returned in 2014 to combat ISIS. Prior to the latest drawdown, about 2,500 U.S. troops remained in the country.Trump suggested the changing security environment in the Middle East also made a continued U.S. military presence less necessary, arguing that Iran \u2014 long viewed as a major destabilizing force in the region \u2014 has been significantly weakened by recent U.S. and Israeli military operations.Instead, Trump emphasized the opportunities Iraq\u2019s oil sector presents for U.S. businesses and investments.\u00a0\u201cIraq has tremendous potential because of their oil and because of other things, but because of their oil, and we\u2019re going to be doing a lot of deals,\u201d he added. \u201cWe\u2019re going to create a lot of jobs for both countries, and we\u2019re going to be taking out a lot of oil. A lot of oil is coming out.\u201dAccording to The Associated Press, Iraq is expected to sign an agreement with Chevron, TI Capital, and Qatar\u2019s UCC to construct a major oil pipeline connecting Basra in southern Iraq to Haditha in western Iraq and onward to Turkey\u2019s Ceyhan port and Syria\u2019s Baniyas port. The pipeline is projected to transport roughly 2 million barrels of oil per day.Al-Zaidi, a 41-year-old banker and businessman from Baghdad, took office earlier this year after receiving backing from Trump, who favored him over former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, a longtime Iraqi political figure accused by critics of maintaining close ties to Iran.The visit marked al-Zaidi\u2019s first trip to the United States. Opening the meeting, he conveyed greetings from \u201cthe oldest civilization in the world\u201d and stressed that Iraqi security forces would be capable of defending the country after the U.S. withdrawal.Trump repeatedly praised the Iraqi leader throughout the meeting and their \u201ctremendous chemistry.\u201d\u201cMark my words, I knew what I was doing,\u201d Trump said. \u201cThis man is going to be a great leader in the Middle East, beyond Iraq. His influence is going to spread all throughout the Middle East.\u201dIn his first speech before parliament, al-Zaidi pledged to disarm militia groups operating outside Iraqi state control.\u00a0On June 15, he and U.S. Special Envoy for Iraq Tom Barrack issued a joint statement outlining plans for the \u201ccomplete disarmament and disbandment of all armed groups and formations operating outside the authority and control of the Iraqi state,\u201d later giving them until the end of September to comply.The issue remains politically sensitive in Iraq, where some powerful factions maintain close ties to Tehran. Earlier this month, the body of Iran\u2019s late supreme leader, Ayatollah Khamenei, was brought into Iraq during a multi-day funeral procession \u2014 a reminder of Iran\u2019s continuing influence among segments of the Iraqi population.At one point during the meeting, Trump referenced the 2020 U.S. strike in Baghdad that killed Iranian General Qassem Soleimani. Al-Zaidi declined to revisit the controversy.\u201cAt that time, I wasn\u2019t involved in politics,\u201d he said. \u201cLet\u2019s talk about the future.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1257,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1258","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news-2"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.6 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Trump Announces U.S. Forces To Withdraw From Iraq After 23 Years - Blue Route Journal<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/blueroutejournal.com\/?p=1258\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Trump Announces U.S. Forces To Withdraw From Iraq After 23 Years - Blue Route Journal\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"More than two decades after the United States invaded Iraq, American forces are set to complete their withdrawal from the country by September 30, Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi announced Tuesday during an Oval Office meeting with President Donald Trump.\u201cOn the 30th of September, the U.S. forces will be out of Iraq while these [U.S.] companies will be inside Iraq,\u201d al-Zaidi said through an interpreter. \u201cThe social relations is about the economy, not about military relations.\u201dThe announcement marks the end of a military presence that began with the U.S.-led invasion in 2003 and evolved through years of insurgency, sectarian violence, counterterrorism operations, and the fight against ISIS. More than 4,400 U.S. service members died in Iraq during the war and its aftermath.Trump welcomed the new relationship, arguing that Iraq no longer requires a significant U.S. military presence and that the future between the two countries should instead focus on economic cooperation.Trump says U.S. troops are no longer needed in Iraq.U.S. troop levels in Iraq peaked at about 170,000 during the Iraq War. Most forces left in 2011, though several thousand returned in 2014 to help fight ISIS.Roughly 2,000 troops remain today. pic.twitter.com\/yDa0uMYpwf\u2014 Kassy Akiva (@KassyAkiva) July 14, 2026\u201cWe don\u2019t think we need the military there anymore,\u201d Trump said. \u201cWe\u2019re there to help them. We\u2019re there to protect them if need be. But we don\u2019t think that\u2019s going to be necessary.\u201dThe withdrawal follows a 2024 agreement that began winding down the United States-led military mission in Iraq. While most troops departed beginning in September 2025, U.S. forces remained in advisory roles and continued supporting operations against ISIS. Many of those personnel were stationed in Iraq\u2019s semi-autonomous Kurdistan region.U.S. troop levels in Iraq peaked at roughly 170,000 in 2007. Most U.S. forces left in 2011 before approximately 5,000 troops returned in 2014 to combat ISIS. Prior to the latest drawdown, about 2,500 U.S. troops remained in the country.Trump suggested the changing security environment in the Middle East also made a continued U.S. military presence less necessary, arguing that Iran \u2014 long viewed as a major destabilizing force in the region \u2014 has been significantly weakened by recent U.S. and Israeli military operations.Instead, Trump emphasized the opportunities Iraq\u2019s oil sector presents for U.S. businesses and investments.\u00a0\u201cIraq has tremendous potential because of their oil and because of other things, but because of their oil, and we\u2019re going to be doing a lot of deals,\u201d he added. \u201cWe\u2019re going to create a lot of jobs for both countries, and we\u2019re going to be taking out a lot of oil. A lot of oil is coming out.\u201dAccording to The Associated Press, Iraq is expected to sign an agreement with Chevron, TI Capital, and Qatar\u2019s UCC to construct a major oil pipeline connecting Basra in southern Iraq to Haditha in western Iraq and onward to Turkey\u2019s Ceyhan port and Syria\u2019s Baniyas port. The pipeline is projected to transport roughly 2 million barrels of oil per day.Al-Zaidi, a 41-year-old banker and businessman from Baghdad, took office earlier this year after receiving backing from Trump, who favored him over former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, a longtime Iraqi political figure accused by critics of maintaining close ties to Iran.The visit marked al-Zaidi\u2019s first trip to the United States. Opening the meeting, he conveyed greetings from \u201cthe oldest civilization in the world\u201d and stressed that Iraqi security forces would be capable of defending the country after the U.S. withdrawal.Trump repeatedly praised the Iraqi leader throughout the meeting and their \u201ctremendous chemistry.\u201d\u201cMark my words, I knew what I was doing,\u201d Trump said. \u201cThis man is going to be a great leader in the Middle East, beyond Iraq. His influence is going to spread all throughout the Middle East.\u201dIn his first speech before parliament, al-Zaidi pledged to disarm militia groups operating outside Iraqi state control.\u00a0On June 15, he and U.S. Special Envoy for Iraq Tom Barrack issued a joint statement outlining plans for the \u201ccomplete disarmament and disbandment of all armed groups and formations operating outside the authority and control of the Iraqi state,\u201d later giving them until the end of September to comply.The issue remains politically sensitive in Iraq, where some powerful factions maintain close ties to Tehran. Earlier this month, the body of Iran\u2019s late supreme leader, Ayatollah Khamenei, was brought into Iraq during a multi-day funeral procession \u2014 a reminder of Iran\u2019s continuing influence among segments of the Iraqi population.At one point during the meeting, Trump referenced the 2020 U.S. strike in Baghdad that killed Iranian General Qassem Soleimani. Al-Zaidi declined to revisit the controversy.\u201cAt that time, I wasn\u2019t involved in politics,\u201d he said. \u201cLet\u2019s talk about the future.\u201d\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/blueroutejournal.com\/?p=1258\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Blue Route Journal\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-07-14T20:39:05+00:00\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"admin\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"admin\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"4 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blueroutejournal.com\\\/?p=1258#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blueroutejournal.com\\\/?p=1258\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"admin\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blueroutejournal.com\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/19da116f8d79cf8987781569801c6b7c\"},\"headline\":\"Trump Announces U.S. Forces To Withdraw From Iraq After 23 Years\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-07-14T20:39:05+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blueroutejournal.com\\\/?p=1258\"},\"wordCount\":860,\"commentCount\":0,\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blueroutejournal.com\\\/?p=1258#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blueroutejournal.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/07\\\/f4a5c26eec156145dc2055552bb80421.avif\",\"articleSection\":[\"News\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/blueroutejournal.com\\\/?p=1258#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blueroutejournal.com\\\/?p=1258\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blueroutejournal.com\\\/?p=1258\",\"name\":\"Trump Announces U.S. Forces To Withdraw From Iraq After 23 Years - Blue Route Journal\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blueroutejournal.com\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blueroutejournal.com\\\/?p=1258#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blueroutejournal.com\\\/?p=1258#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blueroutejournal.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/07\\\/f4a5c26eec156145dc2055552bb80421.avif\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-07-14T20:39:05+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blueroutejournal.com\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/19da116f8d79cf8987781569801c6b7c\"},\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blueroutejournal.com\\\/?p=1258#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/blueroutejournal.com\\\/?p=1258\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blueroutejournal.com\\\/?p=1258#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blueroutejournal.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/07\\\/f4a5c26eec156145dc2055552bb80421.avif\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blueroutejournal.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/07\\\/f4a5c26eec156145dc2055552bb80421.avif\",\"width\":1200,\"height\":675},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blueroutejournal.com\\\/?p=1258#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blueroutejournal.com\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Trump Announces U.S. Forces To Withdraw From Iraq After 23 Years\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blueroutejournal.com\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blueroutejournal.com\\\/\",\"name\":\"Blue Route Journal\",\"description\":\"\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blueroutejournal.com\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blueroutejournal.com\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/19da116f8d79cf8987781569801c6b7c\",\"name\":\"admin\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/50b1ad2e498f523425ee0a8cc5180a210646db1622662a3d56cc405d3e0c346a?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/50b1ad2e498f523425ee0a8cc5180a210646db1622662a3d56cc405d3e0c346a?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/50b1ad2e498f523425ee0a8cc5180a210646db1622662a3d56cc405d3e0c346a?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"admin\"},\"sameAs\":[\"http:\\\/\\\/blueroutejournal.com\"],\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blueroutejournal.com\\\/?author=1\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Trump Announces U.S. Forces To Withdraw From Iraq After 23 Years - Blue Route Journal","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/blueroutejournal.com\/?p=1258","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Trump Announces U.S. Forces To Withdraw From Iraq After 23 Years - Blue Route Journal","og_description":"More than two decades after the United States invaded Iraq, American forces are set to complete their withdrawal from the country by September 30, Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi announced Tuesday during an Oval Office meeting with President Donald Trump.\u201cOn the 30th of September, the U.S. forces will be out of Iraq while these [U.S.] companies will be inside Iraq,\u201d al-Zaidi said through an interpreter. \u201cThe social relations is about the economy, not about military relations.\u201dThe announcement marks the end of a military presence that began with the U.S.-led invasion in 2003 and evolved through years of insurgency, sectarian violence, counterterrorism operations, and the fight against ISIS. More than 4,400 U.S. service members died in Iraq during the war and its aftermath.Trump welcomed the new relationship, arguing that Iraq no longer requires a significant U.S. military presence and that the future between the two countries should instead focus on economic cooperation.Trump says U.S. troops are no longer needed in Iraq.U.S. troop levels in Iraq peaked at about 170,000 during the Iraq War. Most forces left in 2011, though several thousand returned in 2014 to help fight ISIS.Roughly 2,000 troops remain today. pic.twitter.com\/yDa0uMYpwf\u2014 Kassy Akiva (@KassyAkiva) July 14, 2026\u201cWe don\u2019t think we need the military there anymore,\u201d Trump said. \u201cWe\u2019re there to help them. We\u2019re there to protect them if need be. But we don\u2019t think that\u2019s going to be necessary.\u201dThe withdrawal follows a 2024 agreement that began winding down the United States-led military mission in Iraq. While most troops departed beginning in September 2025, U.S. forces remained in advisory roles and continued supporting operations against ISIS. Many of those personnel were stationed in Iraq\u2019s semi-autonomous Kurdistan region.U.S. troop levels in Iraq peaked at roughly 170,000 in 2007. Most U.S. forces left in 2011 before approximately 5,000 troops returned in 2014 to combat ISIS. Prior to the latest drawdown, about 2,500 U.S. troops remained in the country.Trump suggested the changing security environment in the Middle East also made a continued U.S. military presence less necessary, arguing that Iran \u2014 long viewed as a major destabilizing force in the region \u2014 has been significantly weakened by recent U.S. and Israeli military operations.Instead, Trump emphasized the opportunities Iraq\u2019s oil sector presents for U.S. businesses and investments.\u00a0\u201cIraq has tremendous potential because of their oil and because of other things, but because of their oil, and we\u2019re going to be doing a lot of deals,\u201d he added. \u201cWe\u2019re going to create a lot of jobs for both countries, and we\u2019re going to be taking out a lot of oil. A lot of oil is coming out.\u201dAccording to The Associated Press, Iraq is expected to sign an agreement with Chevron, TI Capital, and Qatar\u2019s UCC to construct a major oil pipeline connecting Basra in southern Iraq to Haditha in western Iraq and onward to Turkey\u2019s Ceyhan port and Syria\u2019s Baniyas port. The pipeline is projected to transport roughly 2 million barrels of oil per day.Al-Zaidi, a 41-year-old banker and businessman from Baghdad, took office earlier this year after receiving backing from Trump, who favored him over former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, a longtime Iraqi political figure accused by critics of maintaining close ties to Iran.The visit marked al-Zaidi\u2019s first trip to the United States. Opening the meeting, he conveyed greetings from \u201cthe oldest civilization in the world\u201d and stressed that Iraqi security forces would be capable of defending the country after the U.S. withdrawal.Trump repeatedly praised the Iraqi leader throughout the meeting and their \u201ctremendous chemistry.\u201d\u201cMark my words, I knew what I was doing,\u201d Trump said. \u201cThis man is going to be a great leader in the Middle East, beyond Iraq. His influence is going to spread all throughout the Middle East.\u201dIn his first speech before parliament, al-Zaidi pledged to disarm militia groups operating outside Iraqi state control.\u00a0On June 15, he and U.S. Special Envoy for Iraq Tom Barrack issued a joint statement outlining plans for the \u201ccomplete disarmament and disbandment of all armed groups and formations operating outside the authority and control of the Iraqi state,\u201d later giving them until the end of September to comply.The issue remains politically sensitive in Iraq, where some powerful factions maintain close ties to Tehran. Earlier this month, the body of Iran\u2019s late supreme leader, Ayatollah Khamenei, was brought into Iraq during a multi-day funeral procession \u2014 a reminder of Iran\u2019s continuing influence among segments of the Iraqi population.At one point during the meeting, Trump referenced the 2020 U.S. strike in Baghdad that killed Iranian General Qassem Soleimani. Al-Zaidi declined to revisit the controversy.\u201cAt that time, I wasn\u2019t involved in politics,\u201d he said. \u201cLet\u2019s talk about the future.\u201d","og_url":"https:\/\/blueroutejournal.com\/?p=1258","og_site_name":"Blue Route Journal","article_published_time":"2026-07-14T20:39:05+00:00","author":"admin","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"admin","Est. reading time":"4 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/blueroutejournal.com\/?p=1258#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/blueroutejournal.com\/?p=1258"},"author":{"name":"admin","@id":"https:\/\/blueroutejournal.com\/#\/schema\/person\/19da116f8d79cf8987781569801c6b7c"},"headline":"Trump Announces U.S. Forces To Withdraw From Iraq After 23 Years","datePublished":"2026-07-14T20:39:05+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/blueroutejournal.com\/?p=1258"},"wordCount":860,"commentCount":0,"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/blueroutejournal.com\/?p=1258#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/blueroutejournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/f4a5c26eec156145dc2055552bb80421.avif","articleSection":["News"],"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"CommentAction","name":"Comment","target":["https:\/\/blueroutejournal.com\/?p=1258#respond"]}]},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/blueroutejournal.com\/?p=1258","url":"https:\/\/blueroutejournal.com\/?p=1258","name":"Trump Announces U.S. Forces To Withdraw From Iraq After 23 Years - Blue Route Journal","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/blueroutejournal.com\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/blueroutejournal.com\/?p=1258#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/blueroutejournal.com\/?p=1258#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/blueroutejournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/f4a5c26eec156145dc2055552bb80421.avif","datePublished":"2026-07-14T20:39:05+00:00","author":{"@id":"https:\/\/blueroutejournal.com\/#\/schema\/person\/19da116f8d79cf8987781569801c6b7c"},"breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/blueroutejournal.com\/?p=1258#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/blueroutejournal.com\/?p=1258"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/blueroutejournal.com\/?p=1258#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/blueroutejournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/f4a5c26eec156145dc2055552bb80421.avif","contentUrl":"https:\/\/blueroutejournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/f4a5c26eec156145dc2055552bb80421.avif","width":1200,"height":675},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/blueroutejournal.com\/?p=1258#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/blueroutejournal.com\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Trump Announces U.S. Forces To Withdraw From Iraq After 23 Years"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/blueroutejournal.com\/#website","url":"https:\/\/blueroutejournal.com\/","name":"Blue Route Journal","description":"","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/blueroutejournal.com\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/blueroutejournal.com\/#\/schema\/person\/19da116f8d79cf8987781569801c6b7c","name":"admin","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/50b1ad2e498f523425ee0a8cc5180a210646db1622662a3d56cc405d3e0c346a?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/50b1ad2e498f523425ee0a8cc5180a210646db1622662a3d56cc405d3e0c346a?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/50b1ad2e498f523425ee0a8cc5180a210646db1622662a3d56cc405d3e0c346a?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"admin"},"sameAs":["http:\/\/blueroutejournal.com"],"url":"https:\/\/blueroutejournal.com\/?author=1"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blueroutejournal.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1258","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blueroutejournal.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blueroutejournal.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blueroutejournal.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blueroutejournal.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1258"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/blueroutejournal.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1258\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blueroutejournal.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/1257"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blueroutejournal.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1258"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blueroutejournal.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1258"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blueroutejournal.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1258"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}