US forces complete full withdrawal from Iraq after 23yrs
Iraq Marks End of US Military Presence After 23 Years
Thebangladaily.com – The final American military personnel have left Iraq, closing a chapter that began with the US-led invasion in 2003 and continued through more than two decades of conflict, security cooperation and political change. Iraq declared a four-day public holiday to mark the departure, while celebrations were held in different parts of the country.
The last US troops departed on Tuesday, September 29, before the agreed deadline. Iraqi defence officials said the country’s own forces are now prepared to protect its borders, maintain internal security and exercise authority across Iraqi territory without a foreign military deployment.
A Declaration of Sovereignty
Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi described the withdrawal as the beginning of a new national phase. His government presented the departure as a restoration of complete Iraqi sovereignty, ending the presence of foreign military forces that had remained in the country long after the initial 2003 campaign.
Iraq is entering a new era with full sovereignty over its land, free from foreign military forces.
For many Iraqis, the moment carries deep symbolic importance. The US presence shaped major periods of the country’s recent history, including the fall of Saddam Hussein’s government, years of insurgency and sectarian violence, the rise of the Islamic State group, and the subsequent effort to rebuild Iraqi security institutions.
The end of the mission does not erase those years of turmoil, but it changes the formal relationship between Baghdad and Washington. Responsibility for protecting the country now rests fully with Iraq’s military, police and other security agencies, alongside the political leadership in Baghdad and the authorities operating in the semi-autonomous Kurdish region.
How the Withdrawal Was Carried Out
The departure followed an agreement initiated in 2024 under former US President Joe Biden. That arrangement set out a gradual reduction in the remaining American contingent, which numbered about 2,500 personnel across Iraq and the Kurdish region.
Rather than a single sudden exit, the process involved drawing down forces over time. The final departure completed the agreed transition and brought the military campaign’s 23-year presence to a close.
The American mission had changed significantly since 2003. What began as a large-scale intervention eventually became a much smaller deployment focused on support, training and cooperation with Iraqi partners. The final withdrawal means that even this remaining military footprint has now ended.
Celebration and Concern
Reaction inside Iraq has reflected the country’s varied political and security landscape. Commanders from local armed groups welcomed the pullout as a major victory, viewing it as proof that Iraq can determine its own future without foreign troops on its soil.
Public celebrations and the official holiday underscored the strength of that sentiment. For supporters of the withdrawal, the event represents a long-awaited conclusion to a period in which Iraq’s domestic politics and regional role were heavily influenced by outside military involvement.
Yet the departure has also prompted caution among tribal leaders and security analysts. Their central concern is whether the removal of US forces could leave gaps in a country where security conditions have often shifted quickly and where different armed and political actors maintain influence.
Iraqi leaders have insisted that national forces are capable of meeting the challenge. The test ahead will be whether security institutions can preserve stability, coordinate effectively across the country and prevent renewed violence without foreign military support.
Regional Implications
The withdrawal also has consequences beyond Iraq’s borders. The country sits at the centre of a region shaped by competing interests involving the United States, Iran, Gulf states, Türkiye and other regional powers. Changes in Iraq’s security environment can therefore affect wider Middle Eastern calculations.
Analysts have warned that groups backed by Tehran could gain greater influence after the US exit. Such an outcome could alter the regional balance at a time when tensions remain high across the Middle East.
That possibility does not make any one outcome inevitable. Iraq’s future security direction will depend on decisions made by its government, the performance of its armed forces, the conduct of political and armed groups, and the broader regional climate. Still, the absence of American troops removes a long-standing element of the country’s security structure.
The end of the US military presence is therefore both a national milestone and the start of a demanding new period. Iraq has celebrated the return of full formal control over its territory, but the country must now demonstrate that sovereignty through durable security, political cooperation and independent decision-making.
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