Iran-backed militias in Iraq determined to retain arms after US withdrawal - interview
With the US military's complete withdrawal from Iraq, Baghdad projects a celebratory sense of “sovereignty” despite Iranian-backed militias retaining power there.
The United States' planned withdrawal from Iraq has been met with celebration by Iranian-backed militias, who see it as an "incomplete victory" and are determined to retain their arms after the US departure. Dr. Ronen Zeidel, an Iraq specialist at the Moshe Dayan Center, stated that this determination could lead to an extension of the disarmament deadline, with militias continuing to resist and influence Iraqi legislation.
The departure of US forces and Turkey's expected exit from the Bashiqa-Zilkan military base by the end of 2026 has emboldened Baghdad to project a sense of "sovereignty," despite the presence of Iranian and Houthi military elements in the country.
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