The United States has completed its formal withdrawal of all remaining troops from Iraq, marking the end of a prolonged military presence that began with the 2003 invasion and continued through the later campaign against the Islamic State. The departure comes nearly two decades after the initial conflict and over a decade since the U.S. returned to combat extremist groups in the region. The move signals a major shift in America’s military footprint in the Middle East, though questions remain about Iraq’s stability and the long-term security implications of the drawdown. For context on how this decision reshapes geopolitics and regional dynamics, the full analysis offers deeper insight.
This story appeared in Today, Explained, a daily newsletter that helps you understand the most compelling news and stories of the day. Subscribe here. The last US troops in Iraq formally withdrew today, 23 years after the United States first invaded Iraq and 12 years after it returned to take on the Islamic State. It’s a historic occasion, […]
