US-Militär: Nach über 20 Jahren: Amerikas letzte Soldaten verlassen den Irak

The United States has completed its withdrawal of military personnel from Iraq more than two decades after the fall of Saddam Hussein, marking a new era of uncertainty. The formal completion of the withdrawal is scheduled for Wednesday, following intense fighting against the Islamic State (IS) terrorist group. The war, displacement, terrorism, and political turmoil have left lasting scars on the country.

The decision to withdraw was formally made in 2024, although US combat operations ended in 2021. The remaining approximately 2,500 US soldiers were primarily serving as advisers and trainers. The US presence had already been terminated in 2011; however, the IS terrorist group re-emerged in Iraq and Syria in 2014, posing a new threat to the US and the world.

The withdrawal is a key demand from Iraq's Prime Minister Ali al-Saidi and the powerful militias allied with Iran, who were expected to hand over their weapons in parallel with the US withdrawal. However, the deadline has been shifted to June 2027, with uncertain success rates. The absence of US military forces will usher in a new phase where uncertainty looms.