Iraqis celebrate US troop withdrawal amid concerns over militias and Islamic State

Baghdad, Iraq. Iraqis celebrated the departure of the final US forces on Wednesday after more than two decades of war, while many feared a security vacuum could strengthen Iran-backed militias or allow Islamic State to return. The last troops withdrew mainly from an airbase in Erbil, in the semi-autonomous Kurdish region.

Celebrations and security concerns

Iraqi troops paraded in vehicles through Baghdad and the Shi’ite holy city of Najaf to mark the withdrawal.

The pullout “fills our hearts with joy,” said Baghdad resident Ahmed Salah, who said he felt reborn at the age of 70. He also called on powerful militia groups to surrender their weapons “and let the government be the one responsible to protect me and you on the ground, sky and water.”

Iran, which has entrenched its influence in Iraq through allied armed groups and seeks to drive all US forces out of the Middle East, views the withdrawal as a triumph for its “axis of resistance” of allied armed groups across the region.

Withdrawal agreement and US support

The pullout was agreed in 2024 under President Joe Biden and carried out by President Donald Trump’s administration, even as it wages war against neighbouring Iran.

Trump said the United States was leaving Iraq with “wonderful” Prime Minister Ali Faleh al-Zaidi. In a Truth Social post, he said the prime minister would “hopefully be able to handle things very well.”

The Pentagon said the United States and its coalition partners had formally concluded “Operation Inherent Resolve.” Washington would continue to provide targeted training and intelligence support to Iraqi partners.

More than two decades of conflict

The withdrawal ended the biggest US war of the century, which brought widespread devastation and chaos from which Iraq has yet to fully emerge.

US forces invaded Iraq in 2003 to topple dictator Saddam Hussein, triggering years of upheaval and chaos. American troops initially left at the end of 2011 but returned less than three years later to assist Iraqi forces after Islamic State fighters seized a third of the country and imposed violent rule.

More than 4,500 US troops died in Iraq, around twice as many as in the parallel war in Afghanistan. The Iraq Body Count project says more than 200,000 Iraqi civilians were killed.