US troops exit Iraq after more than a decade

On Wednesday, US forces will withdraw from Iraq's remaining military bases, marking the end of their decade-long presence in the country. Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi designated October 1 as Sovereignty Day, a national occasion that symbolizes Iraq's completion of its journey toward sovereignty and the strengthening of state institutions. Iraqi leaders, including heads of the executive, legislative, and judicial branches, expressed their support for the event.

The US troops were deployed to Iraq and Syria in 2014 to combat the Islamic State (IS) terrorist group, which had seized control of significant areas in both nations. Although IS was defeated in Iraq in 2017 and in Syria in 2019, coalition forces remained to tackle the group's remnants. The complete departure of US troops from Iraq follows 23 years since US-led forces ousted Saddam Hussein, leading to widespread unrest and chaos before the emergence of IS.

Iran and its allies welcomed the withdrawal of US forces, which was agreed upon in 2024 by then-US President Joe Biden. Iran sees this as a victory for its axis of resistance, a coalition of allied armed groups across the region. The US pullout from Iraq has raised concerns about potential reduced security in the area, as Iran-backed Shi'ite militias may seek to increase their control and possibly regroup IS elements.