U.S. and allies formally close 12-year mission in Iraq — the fight against ISIS continues from Jordan

The Pentagon’s chief spokesman, Sean Parnell, said the United States and its coalition partners have officially completed “Operation Inherent Resolve” in Iraq, with all military forces and equipment departed from the air base in Erbil, as Al Jazeera reports.

Parnell described the departure as “the success of a 12-year campaign” against the armed group ISIS and “the transition from a coalition war mission to an Iraqi-led security effort.” Iraqi forces, including Kurdish peshmerga fighters, will now lead the efforts to keep ISIS “suppressed.”

At a ceremony marking the end of the mission, Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi said that “a new phase has begun, defined by Iraq’s sovereignty, the strength of its institutions, the readiness of its forces, the unity of its decision-making and balanced partnerships with its friends.”

The commander of U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), General Brad Cooper, said the operation against ISIS remains operational from Jordan: “As we withdraw and hand over full responsibility for Iraq’s security to the government of Iraq and the brave people of Iraq, U.S. and coalition forces stationed in the region will remain ready to respond to any ISIS threat that emerges.” Tehran, meanwhile, presents the American departure as a victory for the “axis of resistance” of its regional allies — while Kurdish officials warn of a security vacuum after the withdrawal.