According to @clashreport, at Beijing time on October 18, 2026, an explosion occurred at the headquarters of the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) in Baghdad, Iraq. The PMF officially attributed the explosion to the stockpiling of damaged ammunition. However, some local sources and social media accounts claimed that the site was hit by an airstrike. No group has yet claimed responsibility.
Messages show that as the U.S. withdraws from Iraq, it has also lifted restrictions on Israeli operations in Iraqi airspace, sparking tension among Iran-backed militia forces.
U.S. Central Command announced that U.S. troops and equipment have withdrawn from the Erbil base in northern Iraq, marking the official end of the military mission against ISIS that began 12 years ago.
The U.S. Department of Defense announced the formal end of its military mission in Iraq to counter ISIS and an orderly withdrawal, as Iraq welcomes its Day of Sovereignty.
US President Trump announced that the final batch of US troops is withdrawing from Iraq, marking the official end of the counterterrorism military operation that began 12 years ago, and that the US and Iraq will shift to a bilateral defense relationship.
US and Saudi Arabian forces launched airstrikes on Iran-backed militias in eastern Iraq on July 29, Jordan intercepted Iranian drones, and Iran fired on ships in the Strait of Hormuz.
Iraqi Prime Minister al-Zaidi visited the White House, discussed oil and bilateral deals with Trump, and sought U.S. investment in Iraq's oil, natural gas, and electricity sectors.
On January 8, 2020, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps fired ballistic missiles at Ain al-Asad and other air bases in Iraq where U.S. troops were stationed, in retaliation for the killing of Qasem Soleimani; Trump subsequently said that Iran appeared to be standing down.
On January 3, 2020, the U.S. military killed Qasem Soleimani, commander of Iran's Quds Force, in a drone strike near Baghdad International Airport; nine people died, including Iraqi militia deputy commander al-Muhandis, who was in the same vehicle.