Overview
- American troops have departed their last bases in Iraq, concluding a military presence that began with the 2003 invasion and returned to fight ISIS in 2014–2017.
- Iran and allied militia leaders hailed the withdrawal as a victory and say they will press to expand their political and security influence inside Iraq.
- Iraqi officials and Sunni and Kurdish commanders warn the pullout may create security gaps that Islamic State sleeper cells could exploit, and security forces reported a suspected plot tied to the drawdown.
- Baghdad says it is trying to curb militia power, but analysts say the loss of U.S. drones, logistics and intelligence will make counterterror operations harder and shift the balance of influence.
- The change revives Iraq’s long-standing challenge of balancing ties with both Washington and Tehran and raises risks for civilians who depend on stable security and steady services.