US military says its withdrawal of troops from Iraq is complete

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The last troops left an air base in northern Iraq under a deal agreed two years ago.

Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell said troops had completed an “orderly departure” from the base in Irbil, claiming the 12-year campaign had defeated Isis as an organised military threat. 

He said the US would continue providing training and intelligence support to Iraqi partners.

Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi presided over the handover and said Iraqi forces will continue the fight against Isis.

US troops invaded Iraq in 2003 under the guise of toppling Saddam Hussein, departing in 2011 before returning three years later to fight Isis.

Kurdish officials have expressed concern about the removal of US air defence systems. 

The Peshmerga Ministry said the region had faced more than 1,000 drone and missile attacks during the war on Iran.

“The departure of the United States from the Kurdistan Region under these complex regional circumstances, without the provision of a defence system, is a matter of concern,” it said.

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