DUBAI, United Arab Emirates - Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al‑Sudani met Tuesday with the new commander of US Central Command (CENTCOM), Admiral Brad Cooper, in Baghdad, as the US-led coalition continues its planned military drawdown in Iraq.

The meeting, also attended by the Charge d’Affaires of the US embassy in Iraq Steven Fagin, focused on “various security and military aspects” of the US-Iraq partnership and reviewed progress in the campaign against the Islamic State (ISIS), according to a statement from Sudani's office. Officials also assessed the implementation of key elements of the joint declaration issued in September 2024, reaffirming their full commitment to its provisions.

Sudani emphasized that the partnership with the US has produced significant results benefiting both nations while stabilizing security nationally, regionally, and internationally.

Admiral Cooper in turn praised Iraq as a model of successful anti-terrorism cooperation, reiterated his commitment to building on achieved successes, and pledged continued strategic communication and cooperative security efforts in the coming phase.

The meeting comes as the US-led coalition’s military mission in federal Iraqi territory is set to formally conclude by September 2025. Under the two-phase transition agreement, hundreds of US and coalition troops are scheduled to depart, with the mission shifting toward bilateral advisory and capacity-building roles.

US forces are set to remain in the Kurdistan Region until September 2026, according to the agreement.

On August 18, a US defense official told The New Region that Washington remains "committed to end the Coalition’s military mission inside of Iraq by September 2025 and will continue to support counter-ISIS operations in Syria from bases in Iraq through September 2026."

"After transition, the United States will continue a bilateral security cooperation relationship with Iraq," the official added.

At its peak, the US-led coalition maintained a presence across dozens of bases throughout Iraq.

Today, roughly 2,500 US troops remain at key sites, including Erbil Air Base, Baghdad’s Green Zone, and the Ain al-Assad air base in Anbar Province.