US military forces are scheduled to fully evacuate their last remaining bases in Iraq by Wednesday, September 30 and ending more than two decades of military involvement.
The withdrawal completes an agreement established in 2024 and executed by Washington despite ongoing regional instability. While the departure fulfills a long-standing demand for national sovereignty among Iraqis also security experts and community leaders warn it creates a dangerous power vacuum.
Iran and its regional allies have celebrated the pullout as a strategic victory. Pro-Tehran armed groups inside Iraq are expected to leverage the coalition's exit to expand their political and security control over Baghdad. Security analysts note that removing the US presence eliminates a key military counterweight to Iranian influence in the region.
Simultaneously the Iraqi military and Kurdish commanders warn of a resurgence by Islamic State (IS) sleeper cells. Intelligence reports indicate increased militant movement with security forces recently intercepting suicide attack plots intended to coincide with the troop exit. Commanders caution that the loss of US aerial surveillance, drone support and logistical intelligence will leave critical gaps in counter-terrorism operations.
Over 4,500 American service members lost their lives in Iraq since the 2003 invasion which ousted Saddam Hussein and reshaped Middle Eastern geopolitics. As foreign forces leave Iraq now faces the challenge of maintaining internal stability and curbing proxy conflict on its own.
