The US Department of Defense (Pentagon) has announced its commitment to the agreed timeline with the Iraqi government to end the combat military presence in Iraq by September 2026. Sources clarified that US forces will begin a gradual reduction of their bases in central and southern Iraq, maintaining only limited advisory missions and intelligence coordination to combat terrorism. This announcement comes amid internal political pressure in Iraq demanding the end of foreign presence, coinciding with severe regional tensions with Tehran, paving the way for a new security phase where Baghdad relies entirely on its own capabilities.