The US President Barack Obama said that the combat mission in Iraq is over and that this milestone should serve as a message to the world that it intends to sustain and strengthen our leadership in the 21st century.

In his address to the nation, "This milestone should serve as a reminder to all Americans that our future is ours to shape if we move forward with confidence and commitment”, he said.

"Operation Iraqi Freedom is over, and the Iraqi people are now responsible for the security of their country. This was my pledge to the American people as a candidate for this office," he said.

100,000 US troops from Iraq have transferred hundreds of bases to the Iraqis and moved millions of pieces of equipment out of Iraq, he asserted.