World · World News Bureau
United States concludes military presence in Iraq after two decades
The U.S. military has withdrawn its final troops from Iraq, marking the end of a military engagement that began with the 2003 invasion. The withdrawal represents a significant shift in American military strategy in the Middle East.
LSN World News ·
The departure of the last American service members from Iraq concludes a nearly two-decade military presence in the country. The withdrawal reflects a broader reassessment of U.S. commitments in the region and comes after years of negotiations between Washington and Baghdad over the future of American forces on Iraqi soil.
The Iraqi government had sought the withdrawal of foreign combat forces, particularly following the 2020 assassination of Iranian General Qasem Soleimani in Baghdad, which escalated regional tensions and prompted calls for the U.S. to leave. The final departure was conducted in coordination with Iraqi authorities and adhered to an agreement to end the official military mission.
The end of the formal military presence does not necessarily signal a complete disengagement from Iraq. The U.S. maintains diplomatic and intelligence relationships in the region and has indicated it will continue counterterrorism cooperation with regional partners through other means.
The withdrawal marks a symbolic endpoint for military operations that have shaped Middle Eastern geopolitics for over 20 years, though analysts note that regional security challenges and extremist threats remain significant concerns for both Iraq and its international partners.