On September 30, the final contingent of U.S. troops departed Iraq, marking the culmination of a withdrawal plan negotiated between the Iraqi government and the Trump administration in 2024. The exit was carried out under the terms of a bilateral agreement that linked the deadline to the disarmament of non‑state armed groups.
Administration’s rationale and timeline
The Trump administration has repeatedly emphasized that a reduced U.S. footprint encourages Iraqi sovereignty and forces local authorities to assume full security responsibility. After the Islamic State was largely defeated, Washington and Baghdad agreed to wind down the mission, maintaining only a limited presence of a few hundred service members in the semi‑autonomous Kurdish region for training and advisory purposes.
Prime Minister Ali al‑Zaidi initially set a September 30 deadline for militia disarmament, but later pushed the target to June 2027 after acknowledging the difficulty of securing compliance from powerful Iran‑aligned groups. The administration’s stance remains that Iraqi leadership must take decisive steps to neutralize these militias, a process that will continue under Iraqi authority.
Kurdish region expresses anxiety
Officials in Iraq’s Kurdish region warned that the withdrawal could leave a security gap, particularly because U.S. air‑defense systems will no longer be stationed there. The Peshmerga Ministry reported more than 1,000 drone and ballistic‑missile attacks on Kurdish territory during the recent U.S.–Iran conflict, underscoring the region’s vulnerability.
“The departure of the United States from the Kurdistan Region under these complex regional circumstances, without the provision of a defense system, is a matter of concern,” the ministry said in a statement.
Iran‑aligned militias celebrate
Iran‑backed groups welcomed the exit, describing it as the removal of “occupation forces.” Abu Mujahid al‑Assaf, a spokesperson for the Kataib Hezbollah militia, hailed the move as the beginning of full Iraqi sovereignty and warned the Iraqi government against implementing policies that do not serve the people.
What the withdrawal means for Iraq
While the immediate impact on daily life may be limited—U.S. forces had already been scaled back—the departure signals a shift toward Iraqi self‑reliance. The Trump administration argues that the long‑term benefit will be a stronger, more independent Iraqi security apparatus capable of confronting remaining threats without foreign troops.
Critics note that powerful militias close to Iran have yet to disarm and may use the vacuum to increase pressure on the Kurdish region. However, the administration maintains that continued diplomatic pressure and Iraqi security reforms will address these challenges.
Looking ahead
Washington will monitor the situation closely, providing intelligence support and continuing diplomatic engagement with Baghdad. The Trump administration stresses that the United States remains committed to a stable, sovereign Iraq, even as the physical presence of troops ends.
Original reporting: Alexandria, VA News – WTOP News — read the source article.
