United States completes military withdrawal from Iraq

The United States has completed its military withdrawal from Iraq, marking the end of a presence that lasted over 23 years. On September 30, the final combat troops and equipment departed, concluding Operation Inherent Resolve. This follows a long history of intervention that began with the 2003 invasion to disarm Saddam Hussein and saw a subsequent return of forces in 2014 to combat ISIS.

Estimates suggest the U.S. spent more than $1.7 trillion during its involvement. The withdrawal comes as Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi, who assumed office in May, has called for Iranian-backed militias to surrender their weapons. While the Trump administration has expressed confidence in the new Iraqi leadership, security concerns remain high, with the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad issuing frequent warnings regarding kidnapping risks and militia activity.