US forces complete withdrawal from Iraq, marking the end of a 12-year campaign against ISIS. The last troops left an airbase in Erbil, raising concerns about a security vacuum that could empower Iranian-backed groups and ISIS.
The withdrawal, agreed in 2024 under Biden and carried out under Trump, comes 23 years after US forces toppled Saddam Hussein. It follows a 2011 withdrawal and a 2014 return to combat ISIS, which has since been reduced to scattered cells.
Iraqi officials warn that the absence of US military presence could allow security forces trained by the US to become ineffective, risking a resurgence of ISIS and Iranian proxies. The withdrawal is seen as a victory for Iran, which has expanded its influence through regional allies.
Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi has pushed back the deadline for militia disarmament, citing the need for a more comprehensive approach. Concerns remain about the readiness of Iraqi security forces to maintain stability without US support.