US military says its withdrawal of troops from Iraq is complete

On Wednesday, the U.S. military announced the completion of its withdrawal of all American troops from Iraq, marking the end of a 12-year mission to combat the Islamic State group. The final U.S. troops departed an air base in northern Iraq as part of a deal between Baghdad and Washington. This withdrawal, which was agreed upon two years ago, occurred amid the ongoing conflict between the United States and Iran, with occasional spillover into Iraq as Iran-backed militias targeted U.S. forces, while American forces retaliated against militant strongholds.

In recent years, the United States has appeared to pivot its focus away from the Middle East towards Asia, but this shift has been inconsistent, with the Pentagon oscillating between reducing its presence in the region and subsequently becoming embroiled in new conflicts, including the ongoing Iran conflict. Baghdad hailed the termination of the U.S. mission as evidence of Iraq's growing strength and sovereignty.

The end of the mission was also celebrated by Iran-backed groups, yet it raised concerns among certain Iraqis, especially in the Kurdish region, where many worry about the potential for renewed turmoil.