‘The country has become a battlefield’: Last US troops exit Iraq

The last US troops in Iraq have left the country, marking the end of nearly two decades of US military presence. The withdrawal, agreed upon by Baghdad and Washington, sees the Iraqi army take over the coalition's remaining bases. According to France 24, some locals near the US bases who have been caught in the crossfire of attacks are hoping for a fresh start.

The US invasion of Iraq began in 2003, with initial withdrawal in 2011, before returning in 2014 to fight the Islamic State (IS). The troops' departure comes as Iraq seeks to strengthen its military capabilities and reaffirm its sovereignty. As per Semafor, a former top career State Department official, Jen Gavito, noted that the withdrawal carries risks for US counterterrorism efforts against IS and the ongoing US conflict with Iran.

Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi has declared October 1 as Sovereignty Day, a national occasion affirming Iraq's path toward sovereignty. DW News reported that Iran and its allies have celebrated the withdrawal of US forces, viewing it as a triumph for its "axis of resistance". The US had approximately 2,500 troops in Iraq before the withdrawal.

Brief written by urgent.news from France 24, Semafor, Al Majalla English, DW News, DW English (Top Stories) — 5 reports on this story. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.