President Barack Obama declares an end to Operation Iraqi Freedom and the start of Operation New Dawn in Iraq, marking an end to formal combat operations that began on March 19, 2003.
The U.S. military is maintaining a beefed-up presence in the Middle East, including fighters and air defense assets, following the U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities June 22 and subsequent retaliation by the Iranians against Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar.
