Iraq faces uncertainty over US troop withdrawal and sovereignty

Iraq faces a critical sovereignty test as the deadline for the withdrawal of United States and international coalition forces approaches on September 30. While political agreements exist between Baghdad and Washington regarding the departure of troops, doubts persist concerning the actual implementation of this withdrawal. Some reports suggest that the reduction of forces may actually be a tactical redeployment rather than a full exit, with claims that Marine Corps units have not left their positions in Erbil and that new military reinforcements may arrive in the region shortly.

Simultaneously, the Iraqi government, led by Ali al-Zaidi, is struggling to implement policies to restrict weapons to state control. This effort is complicated by the influence of armed factions and the broader geopolitical struggle between the United States and Iran. Although al-Zaidi previously sought American support to end the presence of weapons outside state authority during a meeting with Donald Trump, regional conflicts and internal pressures have hindered the ability to meet established timelines for security and economic reform.