Key facts
- The Pentagon announced Wednesday the formal conclusion of US troop withdrawal from Iraq.
- The withdrawal marks the end of Operation Inherent Resolve in Iraq.
- US forces will continue to provide training and intelligence support to Iraq.
- Iraqi security experts worry the withdrawal could allow the Islamic State to recover.
- The US invaded Iraq in 2003 and later sent troops back in 2014 to fight the Islamic State.
The Pentagon announced on Wednesday that it has formally completed its withdrawal of US troops from Iraq, concluding Operation Inherent Resolve. This marks the end of a military mission that began 12 years ago to defeat the Islamic State.
Iran and its allies celebrated the departure as a victory. However, Iraqi security experts expressed concerns that the withdrawal could create security vacuums, potentially allowing the Islamic State and other groups to recover. Jassim al-Bahadli, an adviser to Iraqi security forces, stated that such vacuums can be extremely dangerous, while retired army general Mohammed al-Juburi questioned whether Iraq has a plan for this new phase.
The US initially invaded Iraq in 2003 to overthrow Saddam Hussein. Following the end of the Iraq War in 2011, under President Barack Obama, all US troops were slated for withdrawal. However, troops were redeployed in 2014 when the Islamic State seized significant territory. A coalition of over 80 countries, led by the US, was formed to combat the group, which lost its hold in Iraq in 2017.
The US military presence in Iraq stood at under 40,000 troops in 2011, with 4,400 US military members having been killed up to that point. The Pentagon stated that it will continue to provide training and intelligence support to Iraq to prevent the reconstitution of ISIS. The primary responsibility for Iraq's security challenges, including remnants of ISIS and Iran-aligned militias, now rests with the Iraqi government.