United States to withdraw troops from Iraq by late September

The United States has announced a deadline of September 30, 2024, to complete the total withdrawal of its troops from Iraq, ending a military presence that began with the 2003 invasion.

This withdrawal occurs amid significant internal instability in Iraq. The Iraqi government, led by Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi, is facing intense pressure to assert state control over weapons and disarm Shia militias linked to Iran. To address this, the Coalition for the Administration of the State of Iraq declared that after the September deadline, any armed activities conducted outside of official state structures may be prosecuted under anti-terrorism legislation.

Regional tensions have escalated following the outbreak of war with Iran in February. Saudi Arabia has accused Tehran-backed groups of launching drone attacks from Iraqi territory against Saudi oil installations and the capital, Riyadh. In July, Saudi forces and the U.S. Central Command conducted joint airstrikes against militia positions in eastern Iraq. Prime Minister al-Zaidi, who assumed office only months ago, faces the complex challenge of balancing the conflicting interests of various political and military actors to maintain domestic stability.