U.S. Military Prepares to Complete Final Withdrawal from Iraq
The U.S. military is set to complete its withdrawal from Iraq, marking the end of a two-decade presence and handing a major strategic victory to Iran.
The United States military is poised to finally complete its withdrawal from its remaining bases in Iraq. The dramatic move, which closes a bloody chapter in American history, is now being celebrated as a massive strategic victory for Iran and its allies.
Strategic Shifts and Regional Concerns
The departure of American forces leaves the Middle Eastern nation, where no fewer than 4,500 U.S. service members lost their lives over two decades of fierce combat, under unprecedented and deep Iranian influence. Iraqi security experts note that the withdrawal—agreed upon in principle in 2024 under the administration of then-President Joe Biden and now executed under Donald Trump—could grant Tehran and its armed proxies absolute freedom of action.
"Iran is expected to strategically benefit from the departure of the coalition, as it removes a military presence that served for years as a vital counterweight to Tehran's influence in Iraq," explained Jassem al-Bahadli, an Iraqi security analyst.
The Risk of a Resurgent ISIS
Beyond the Iranian threat, Iraqi and Kurdish security officials warn that the withdrawal is breathing new life into dormant ISIS cells. Despite the collapse of its caliphate nearly a decade ago, the terrorist group continues to pose a tangible threat to regional stability.
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U.S. forces originally invaded Iraq in 2003 to depose dictator Saddam Hussein.
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Troops withdrew in late 2011 but returned in 2014 to combat the rise of ISIS.
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Seven out of eighteen U.S. military casualties in the current regional conflict were recorded on Iraqi soil.
