US troops leave Iraq, but double down in the region
US troops leave Iraq, but double down in the region newspress_en Wed, 09/30/2026 - 08:10 Politics The departure of US forces from Iraq ahead of the 30 September deadline marks the end of an era of American counter-terrorism operations and forward presence that both complicated and defined the regional security landscape. In Iraq, the departure of US forces closes the book on over two decades of…
The United States has withdrawn its troops from Iraq as of September 30, 2026, signaling the conclusion of a two-decade presence that began with the Bush administration's 2003 invasion. Prior to this, Iraq saw American military involvement during the 2011 withdrawal and a redeployment in 2014 to combat the Islamic State (IS). In Syria, US forces left all major bases in April 2026 and transferred authority to the new Syrian government led by President Ahmed al-Sharaa, concluding a 12-year partnership with local forces targeted against IS.
This exit after 25 years of conflict aligns with the month of 9/11, which initiated the U.S. "forever wars" in West Asia. Despite the withdrawal, the U.S. maintains a military presence in the region due to ongoing conflicts with Iran. The Iran war has intensified regional tensions, leading to prolonged deployments by American forces, including aircraft, warships, and ground troops, across a wider geographical network stretching from the Gulf to Europe and the Indian Ocean.
These deployments underscore a shift towards a more networked approach to security in the Middle East, departing from the traditional model of American intervention.
Written by urgent.news from Al Majalla English's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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