US troops set to leave Iraq after 12-year fight against ISIS: Reports
Summary
The US military is expected to complete its withdrawal from Iraq on Wednesday, ending a 12-year presence tied to the fight against ISIS. Iraq will mark the departure with four “Sovereignty Days” as Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi links the move to efforts to strengthen state authority.
Key Points
- The US military is expected to complete its withdrawal from Iraq on Wednesday, ending a 12-year presence in the country.
- The withdrawal was negotiated by the Biden administration in 2024 and continued under the Trump administration, with troops relocating to Jordan.
- Iraq will mark the US departure with four “Sovereignty Days,” while the government says it wants to strengthen state authority and disarm militias by June 2027.
- The US-led campaign defeated ISIS militarily in 2019, but American forces had remained to prevent the group’s resurgence.
