US President Donald Trump has announced the withdrawal of the last American forces from Iraq, declaring the end of Operation Inherent Resolve in the country.
Trump made the announcement in a statement posted on his official account on Wednesday, saying the departure marked the conclusion of a lengthy US military involvement in Iraq.
“Today, I am pleased to announce, that the last American Forces are leaving Iraq!” Trump said.
He described the US involvement in Iraq as the result of “very bad decision-making” and said its conclusion would soon become part of history.
Trump also welcomed Iraq’s new Prime Minister, Ali al-Zaidi, whom he said he had supported and endorsed from the beginning.
“He won an Election that he was not expected to win, and did so, in a landslide!” Trump said.
According to Trump, Operation Inherent Resolve, launched in 2014 during the administration of President Barack Obama as part of the international campaign against ISIS, would formally end in 2026 under his presidency.
He also contrasted the Iraq withdrawal with the US departure from Afghanistan, arguing that the Iraq operation was ending with an orderly removal of coalition forces and equipment from Erbil Air Base.
“Unlike Afghanistan, where much Military Equipment and everything else was left behind, and 13 Warriors lie dead, with many badly wounded, this orderly departure of Coalition forces and equipment from Erbil Air Base marks the end of a very expensive excursion into Hell,” Trump said.
The US president credited his administration with defeating ISIS and said his decision was based on the view that the original military objective had been achieved.
“I set a clear mission, gave our Commanders the tools to finish it, and refused to let a temporary presence become a permanent one,” he said.
Trump added that he had considered whether to maintain or end the US military presence before deciding that it was time for American troops to leave.
“I had a choice to stay or to leave, and felt, without question, that it was time for America to go home!” he said.
He expressed confidence in Prime Minister al-Zaidi’s ability to manage Iraq following the withdrawal.
“Prime Minister al-Zaidi, is outstanding, and he will hopefully be able to handle things very well,” Trump said.
Concluding his statement, Trump said the US had achieved the objective for which it entered the conflict.
“We came to fight a caliphate. There is no longer a caliphate. We are going home!” he said.
