Iraq marked a significant milestone with the formal withdrawal of U.S. troops, signaling what Iraqi leaders described as a new phase of sovereignty. The event took place on Wednesday, highlighted by a four-day national holiday titled “Sovereignty Days” and a military parade through Baghdad’s streets. Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi, speaking at a closed-door ceremony in Baghdad, characterized the transition as underscoring Iraq’s institutional strength, military readiness, unified decision-making, and balanced relations with international partners.
The withdrawal concluded a long-standing U.S. military presence aimed primarily at combating the Islamic State group, known as ISIS. Although U.S.-led coalition forces have relocated their headquarters to Jordan, they retained the capacity to respond swiftly to any emerging ISIS threats in the region. U.S. Central Command emphasized that the anti-ISIS mission would continue in a reduced posture, entrusting full security responsibility to Iraq’s government and military.
The agreement to end the U.S. combat role in Iraq originated under President Joe Biden in 2024 and was maintained by his predecessor, Donald Trump, who had publicly criticized the Iraq War as a strategic error. On Wednesday, Trump contrasted the orderly American exit from Iraq with the chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021, noting that he had instructed the military to secure all equipment during the drawdown.
The withdrawal arrives amid complex geopolitical dynamics, as Iraq seeks to navigate tensions between two powerful allies: the United States and Iran. Since the 2003 U.S. invasion, Iran’s influence in Iraq has expanded significantly, largely through proxy militias that have been integrated into the Iraqi security apparatus. These militias, which also fought ISIS alongside Iraqi forces, hold substantial political and financial sway and have long advocated for an end to the U.S. military presence.
In recent months, Iranian-aligned militias have intensified attacks targeting U.S. military installations, using rockets and drones. They also deny responsibility for an attack on a Saudi pipeline that Riyadh attributed to them. The Trump administration had urged Baghdad to curtail Iranian influence by disbanding or disarming the militias, a demand that remains contentious. On Wednesday, several militias organized their own celebratory parade in Baghdad, portraying the U.S. withdrawal as a hard-won victory for what they termed the “resistance.”
Meanwhile, Iraq’s Kurdish regional government expressed concerns about the implications of the U.S. departure, particularly the loss of air defense capabilities that had protected the region from numerous missile and drone attacks amid ongoing U.S.-Iran tensions. Kurdish authorities have also faced increasing threats from Iran-aligned militias targeting opposition bases in northern Iraq.
Prime Minister al-Zaidi had set a deadline for militias to surrender their weapons by Wednesday but extended it to June 2027 amid uncertainty about enforcement. Analysts express doubts about the government’s ability to forcibly disarm these groups, noting the legacy of failed attempts even during times of strong U.S. support. With the United States and Israel currently engaged in hostilities with Iran, the militias are unlikely to relinquish their arms soon.
A senior U.S. official reaffirmed Washington’s stance, emphasizing the importance of Iraqi sovereignty and urging Baghdad to prevent Iranian-backed militias from launching attacks within its borders. The United States also expressed full support for disarmament efforts and the centralization of military authority under Iraq’s government.
As Iraq assumes full responsibility for its security, the interplay among domestic factions, regional powers, and former occupying forces will shape the nation’s trajectory in the months ahead.