What happened
The last US military personnel are set to leave their bases in Iraq by September 30, marking the end of the US military presence in the country. This withdrawal was agreed upon in 2024 by US President Joe Biden and supported by the second Trump administration. Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Falih al-Zaidi confirmed that there was a full and final agreement with US Central Command Chief Adm. Brad Cooper for the final US troops to leave at the end of September.
Iraq will now be responsible for its own security and stability, with al-Zaidi stating that October 1 will mark a new day in the trajectory of the Iraqi state. The US-led coalition first arrived in Iraq in March 2003, and since then, there have been two main operations: Operation Iraqi Freedom, which lasted from 2003 to 2011, and Operation Inherent Resolve, which was in support of allied forces fighting ISIS in Iraq and Syria.
The withdrawal has been met with mixed reactions, with some expressing concern about the timing and the potential vacuum it may create. Abdul Rahman al-Zobaie, a Sunni tribal leader in Fallujah, Iraq, said he believes Iraq is still not fully ready to take over the security file at this time. On the other hand, Iranian-backed factions have claimed the US withdrawal as a historic victory, with Abu Mojtaba al-Yasiri, a commander in the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, stating that it is a crushing defeat for the American project.
Iraqi security analyst Jasim al-Bahadli predicted that Iranian-backed Shia groups will seek to increase their influence in the absence of US forces, as Iran stands to benefit strategically from the coalition's departure. The US withdrawal marks the end of a significant chapter in Iraq's history, with the country now facing new challenges and opportunities as it takes full responsibility for its own security and stability.
