U.S.–Iraq Status of Forces Agreement | Vibepedia

The U.S.–Iraq Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA), signed in 2008, replaced expiring UN mandates and set firm deadlines for American troop withdrawals from Iraq. Ratified amid tense negotiations between George W. Bush and Nouri al-Maliki, it mandated combat forces out of cities by June 2009 and full exit by December 2011. This pact reshaped U.S. military presence, emphasizing Iraqi sovereignty while enabling counter-terrorism against al-Qaeda.