Iraq Says U.S. Forces Have Fully Withdrawn, Leaving Security to Local and Regional Players
Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein says U.S. forces have now “completely completed their withdrawal” from Iraq, ending a long-running military presence and putting more responsibility on Iraqi troops while creating room for neighbouring powers to assert themselves.
Iraq’s foreign minister says all remaining U.S. forces have now left the country, drawing a line under a military presence that has shaped Iraq’s security landscape for years.
Fuad Hussein stated that U.S. forces have “completely completed their withdrawal” from Iraq. Washington had already shifted its troops from combat to advisory roles, but Hussein’s wording signals that those advisory elements have now departed as well.
For Iraq’s security forces, this removes a source of air support, intelligence, and training that proved crucial during past crises, including the fight against the Islamic State group. The army and police must now manage internal and external threats without U.S. units on the ground.
Armed groups that operate alongside or within Iraqi state structures are likely to gain greater freedom of action in the absence of American troops. Some of these factions have close ties to Iran and have long demanded a full U.S. exit.
Other regional powers have also built up their presence in and around Iraq. Turkey has expanded operations in the north, citing its campaign against Kurdish militants. With no U.S. forces physically in the country, Ankara and Tehran both face fewer immediate constraints on how they pursue their security interests there.
For Washington, the departure reduces the risk of casualties from rocket and drone attacks on bases, but it also cuts into its ability to influence events on the ground. Future engagement will depend more on diplomatic channels, intelligence sharing, and remote military options.
Whether Iraqi forces can hold security gains without a U.S. backstop will become clearer over time. Observers will be watching for changes in the frequency and scale of attacks claimed by armed groups, any moves to formalize or expand the role of powerful militias, and shifts in Turkish or Iranian military activity on Iraqi territory.
Sources
- OSINT