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

Baghdad - Iraqis celebrated the departure of U.S. forces after more than two decades of conflict on Wednesday, yet many expressed apprehension that the resulting security vacuum might empower Iran-backed militias or pave the way for the resurgence of the Islamic State (IS). The final troops, primarily stationed at an airbase in Erbil within Iraq's semi-autonomous Kurdish region, departed, concluding the largest U.S. war of the 21st century, which inflicted extensive devastation and chaos from which Iraq has yet to fully recover.

Iran, having firmly established its influence in Iraq through allied armed groups, regards the U.S. withdrawal as a significant victory for its "axis of resistance" of allied groups spanning the region. Iraqi troops marched through Baghdad's streets and the holy Shiite city of Najaf to commemorate the pullout. For Baghdad resident Ahmed Salah, 70, the withdrawal filled his heart with joy, stating that he felt a rebirth.

However, he also emphasized the need for powerful militia groups to lay down their weapons and for the government to formulate a plan.