Joy mixed with fear as US forces quit Iraq leaving potential security vacuum

BAGHDAD — Iraqis rejoiced on Wednesday as U.S. forces departed after more than two decades of conflict, although many expressed concern that the security vacuum could provide a platform for Iran-backed militias or an opportunity for the resurgence of the Islamic State. The final withdrawal of troops, primarily from an airbase in Erbil, in Iraq's Kurdish region, marked the end of the United States' longest war, which inflicted significant devastation and chaos that Iraq has yet to fully recover from.

Iran, determined to dismantle U.S. influence in the Middle East, celebrated the U.S. pullout as a victory for its "axis of resistance" coalition of allied militias across the region. Iraqi forces celebrated their liberation with parades through the streets of Baghdad and the holy city of Najaf, with residents expressing a mix of relief and apprehension.

Ahmed Salah, a 70-year-old resident of Baghdad, expressed his jubilation at the withdrawal, stating that it felt as if he had been reborn. However, Salah also warned that it was now crucial for powerful militia groups to relinquish their weapons and for the government to step in and maintain order.