Italy completes troop withdrawal from Iraq

Italy Ends 12-Year Military Presence in Iraq, Completes Troop Withdrawal

Italy's Withdrawal from Iraq: Key Details and Implications

Completion of Troop Withdrawal

ROME, Sept 29 (Reuters) - Italy on Tuesday completed the withdrawal of its last troops from Iraq, ending a 12-year military presence in the country, a defence ministry statement said.

Timeline of Withdrawal

• Rome had already recalled most of its personnel from Iraq by March 2026, after an overnight air strike targeted a military base in the Kurdistan region.

Italy's Role in Iraq

• Italian forces took part in the U.S.-led Operation Inherent Resolve against Islamic State and in NATO Mission Iraq, a non-combat advisory and capacity-building mission.

Agreements and Transition

Coordination with Local Authorities

• The statement said Italian and NATO forces had agreed with local authorities to leave the area by Sept. 30.

Shift in Security Responsibility

• Defence Minister Guido Crosetto said the withdrawal marked a transition towards greater Iraqi responsibility for its own security.

Continued Italian Presence

• Two Italian Carabinieri officers will remain in Iraq under the European Union's EUAM Iraq mission, which operates with the Iraqi government's approval, the ministry said.

Reporting Credits

(Reporting by Angelo Amante, editing by Alvise Armellini)