U.S. officials have clarified that the recent agreement between Washington and Baghdad does not indicate a complete U.S. withdrawal from Iraq, according to a report by ABC News.

On Friday, the United States and Iraq announced plans to end the coalition’s military mission in Iraq within the next twelve months, with a final deadline set for September 2025. However, U.S. officials emphasized that this agreement marks a shift to a new military relationship between the two countries, rather than a departure. The new arrangement will be separate from the coalition that has fought ISIS for over a decade.

In a joint statement, both nations confirmed that while the coalition’s military mission in Iraq will conclude by September 2025, it will transition into bilateral security partnerships aimed at supporting Iraqi forces and maintaining pressure on ISIS.

The statement also noted that the coalition’s military presence in Syria will continue until September 2026 to prevent the resurgence of ISIS in northeastern Syria.

The agreement comes after Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' Al-Sudani’s visit to Washington in April 2024, and follows the second round of U.S.-Iraq joint security cooperation dialogue held in July 2024. Both sides emphasized their commitment to strengthening the bilateral relationship and enhancing security cooperation based on mutual respect and in line with the Strategic Framework Agreement and Iraq’s constitution.

Iraq also reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring the protection of international advisors stationed in the country during the transition period. Practical steps to implement the agreement are already underway, with the Higher Military Committee working to establish procedures and timelines for the mission's conclusion.