US Withdraws from Iraq — 8-Year War Ends; 4,487 US Troops Killed

The last US combat troops crossed from Iraq into Kuwait on December 18, 2011, formally ending the 8-year Iraq War. A total of 4,487 US troops were killed in action and 32,226 were wounded. Over 100,000 Iraqi civilians died by various estimates. The war cost an estimated $800B directly; long-term costs including veterans' care exceeded $2 trillion. ISIS's rise in 2014 forced the US to return with a smaller advisory and air-power mission under Operation Inherent Resolve.