The pullout was agreed upon in 2024 under President Biden and has been implemented by the Trump administration during its war against Iran
The pullout, agreed in 2024 under President Joe Biden and implemented by Donald Trump’s administration during its war against Iran, comes after more than two decades of conflict in which 4,500 Americans died.
Security analyst Jasim al-Bahadli said the departure removed a longstanding counterweight to Tehran and could allow pro-Iranian militias to gain greater influence over security and political decisions. Abu Mojtaba al-Yasiri, a commander in the Iran-backed Islamic Resistance in Iraq, called it “a historic victory for the Iraqi Islamic resistance groups and honourable Iraqis, and a crushing defeat for the American project”. However, Sunni tribal leader Abdulrahman al-Zobaie said Iraq was not fully ready to assume responsibility for security and warned that the coalition’s departure could create a vacuum. Iran, which seeks the removal of US forces from West Asia, says the withdrawal is a victory for its “axis of resistance”. Kurdish commander Sirwan Barzani said losing US intelligence and logistical support could allow Islamic State sleeper cells to regroup.
Washington has accused Iran-backed Iraqi militias of attacking neighbouring countries.