Italy Ends 12-Year Military Presence in Iraq

The U.S.-led coalition’s combat mission in Iraq is ending as foreign forces withdraw, with Italy completing its 12-year deployment and Germany having already ended its advisory mission in Iraqi Kurdistan. Baghdad says the transition restores sovereignty and is shifting toward bilateral security ties, while Italy says future cooperation with Iraq will emphasize training and military expertise. The withdrawals leave Iraqi authorities with greater responsibility for security, but Kurdish and Sunni leaders warn that the timing is risky amid continuing ISIS sleeper-cell threats and the presence of armed Iran-backed militias. Efforts to disarm those militias are expected to continue into 2027, and some factions have resisted giving up their weapons.