United States Completes Military Withdrawal From Iraq
The United States has finished withdrawing all military forces from Iraq, ending a presence that began with the 2003 invasion and included a twelve-year campaign against the Islamic State. According to Reuters, the withdrawal could strengthen Iran-aligned proxy groups and remaining Islamic State elements still operating in Iraq.
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American military forces have completed their full withdrawal from Iraq, marking the end of a military presence that started with the US-led invasion in 2003, according to the Associated Press and Reuters. This withdrawal also concludes a twelve-year American military intervention against the Islamic State in both Iraq and Syria.
Reuters reports that the pullout carries significant risks for Iraq's stability. Iran-aligned proxy groups may grow stronger, and remnants of the Islamic State that continue to operate in the country could become emboldened. The withdrawal follows years of discussions between Washington and Baghdad about the future of American military operations in Iraq, which had already been reduced substantially since the Islamic State's territorial caliphate was defeated.
The complete departure closes a chapter that began when a US-led coalition invaded Iraq in 2003 to remove Saddam Hussein's government. American military involvement evolved into a major campaign against the Islamic State after the group took control of large territories in Iraq during the mid-2010s. Analysts cited by Reuters have expressed concern that the withdrawal leaves important questions unanswered about which forces will now provide security and stability in Iraq.
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