{
  "id": 12134419,
  "title": "The Iraq War is finally over. It did some good.",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/05/the-iraq-war-is-finally-over-it-did-some-good",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-05T10:45:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Japan Times",
    "slug": "japan-times",
    "url": "https://www.japantimes.co.jp/commentary/2026/10/05/world/iraq-war-finally-over/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Iraq War, which began with the U.S. invasion in 2003, has finally concluded as the last contingent of American soldiers left Iraq last week. This marks the end of a prolonged and challenging period for both the United States and Iraq, a conflict that lasted for over two decades. The U.S. presence in Iraq dwindled significantly after the rise of ISIS in 2014, reducing from nearly 200,000 troops to a residual force of about 2,500. This force remained in Iraq to combat the terrorist group for the following dozen years.\n\nThe human cost of the war was substantial, with approximately 4,500 Americans losing their lives, around 3,500 of which were in combat. Over 30,000 Americans were wounded, and the conflict resulted in hundreds of thousands of Iraqi civilian casualties. The financial burden of the war was also immense, estimated to be around $1.7 trillion. Many historians and military analysts view the Iraq War as a disaster, likening it to other failed interventions such as Vietnam and Afghanistan. Despite these bleak assessments, the war is now officially over, signaling an end to a chapter marked by significant sacrifice and loss.",
  "summary": "About 4,500 Americans died in Iraq since 2003, around 3,500 in combat, and more than 30,000 were wounded.",
  "key_points": [
    "U.S. invasion of Iraq began in 2003",
    "Last contingent of American soldiers left Iraq in 2021",
    "War cost estimated at $1.7 trillion"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}