The US and the coalition completed the withdrawal of troops from Iraq after 12 years of presence
Quick Look
- The international coalition led by the United States completed the withdrawal of troops from Iraq 12 years after the start of the operation against ISIS*.
- The last American troops left the Victoria base at Baghdad airport.
- Iraqi authorities and pro-Iranian factions declared a two-day holiday weekend, calling the event 'Independence Day'.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
An international coalition led by the United States launched an operation against ISIS in Iraq in 2014. The troop withdrawal was agreed to in 2024 under President Joe Biden and carried out by the Donald Trump administration. Iraqi authorities have promised that pro-Iranian Shiite factions will surrender their weapons and join the regular army by the withdrawal date, but the disarmament process may not begin until September 30.
The international coalition led by the United States withdrew its troops from Iraq 12 years after the start of the operation against the terrorist group "Islamic State"* (IS*) under pressure from the authorities and pro-Iranian groups.
As Al Jazeera TV channel reports, the last American military personnel left the territory of their bases in Iraq, in particular, the Victoria base at Baghdad airport, from where they flew flights to strike ISIS positions and where they trained Iraqi military personnel.
The representative of the Iraqi armed forces, Sabah al-Nauman, stated in this regard that “Iraq is capable of independently ensuring its security; foreign military personnel in recent years have only helped in targeting targets.”
The withdrawal of coalition troops is celebrated not only by Iran's allies in Iraq, who present it as a victory for them and Tehran, but also by the Iraqi authorities themselves. They announced a two-day holiday weekend in the country in connection with the end of the American military presence, calling the holiday “Independence Day.”
Iraqi security experts say the troop withdrawal, agreed to in 2024 under US President Joe Biden and carried out by Donald Trump's administration, could give Tehran and its powerful allies a free hand and allow other US adversaries, including the Islamic State, to re-emerge.
Persuading the Americans to leave the country, the Iraqi authorities promised that the pro-Iranian Shiite groups would surrender their weapons by the same date and become part of the regular army. However, as Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi recently said in a statement on this issue, the process of disarmament of the Shiite militia can only begin on September 30.
At the same time, one of the leaders of the Shiite militia from the Al-Nujaba movement, Ali al-Asadi, said in an interview with Al Mayadeen TV channel that they have information about the Americans creating a special unit of Iraqis to incite sectarian hatred and murders in the country, and the Iraqis need to resist these plans.
The largest group within the pro-Iranian militia, Ketaib Hezbollah, promised to closely monitor all movements of the US military and shoot down US military aircraft if they violate Iraqi airspace.
What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
Pro-Iranian Shiite groups will begin the process of disarmament and integration into the regular army of Iraq
Possible · Within weeks
Iran and its allies will increase their political and military influence in Iraq
Likely · Within months
The Islamic State group may intensify its activities in Iraq
Possible · Within months
Open Questions
- Can Iraq really ensure its security without foreign troops?
- How quickly will pro-Iranian groups fulfill their promise of disarmament and integration into the army?
- Will IS* use the power vacuum to intensify its activities?
- How will the United States respond to potential threats to its interests in Iraq after the withdrawal of troops?
