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Italy has completed the withdrawal of its troops from Iraq, ending its 12-year military presence in the country, the Italian Defence Ministry said in a statement on Tuesday.
Rome had withdrawn most of its troops and military personnel from Iraq in March following overnight airstrikes on a military base in the Kurdistan region.
Italian forces had participated in the US-led Operation Inherent Resolve against the Islamic State, also known as Daesh, as well as NATO Mission Iraq. The NATO mission focused on advising and helping build the capabilities of Iraqi security forces rather than conducting combat operations.
The Defence Ministry said Italian and NATO forces had agreed with local authorities to leave the area by September 30.
Italian Defence Minister Guido Crosetto said the troop withdrawal marked the beginning of a new phase in which Iraqi authorities would assume greater responsibility for the country’s security.
Italy’s presence in Iraq, however, will not end completely. The ministry said two Italian Carabinieri officers would remain in the country as part of the European Union Advisory Mission in Iraq (EUAM Iraq), which operates with the approval of the Iraqi government.