U.S. forces to withdraw from Iraq after more than two decades

U.S. forces are due to leave their last bases in Iraq by Wednesday, ending a military presence that began in 2003. The withdrawal, agreed in 2024, is being carried out as Iranbacked groups in Iraq celebrate what they see as a political victory. The move follows years of shifting U.S. involvement in Iraq. American troops first invaded to topple Saddam Hussein, withdrew in 2011, and returned in 2014 to help Iraq fight Islamic State. Iraq has since remained a contested arena where the United States, Iran, and armed groups have all sought influence. Security experts and Iraqi officials warn that the departure could create a vacuum if the country is not fully ready to handle security on its own. They also say the pullout may increase the risk of renewed activity by Islamic State cells, which have kept a presence despite the group’s battlefield defeat.