US Forces Scheduled to Withdraw from Iraq Bases by Wednesday
The South China Morning Post reports that US forces are scheduled to leave their final bases in Iraq by Wednesday, an event that Iran and its allies are celebrating as a victory, despite ongoing US military actions against Tehran.
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According to the South China Morning Post, US forces are slated to withdraw from their final bases in Iraq by Wednesday. This departure has been viewed as a triumph by Iran and its allies, who reportedly hold significant influence within the nation where 4,500 Americans lost their lives over more than twenty years of conflict.
Iraqi security specialists suggest that the withdrawal, which was agreed upon in 2024 under President Joe Biden and executed by Donald Trump’s administration while it was engaged in conflict with Iran, might grant Tehran and its influential allies unrestricted freedom. Furthermore, it could enable other adversaries of the US, such as the Islamic State, to reassert themselves.
Jasim al-Bahadli, an Iraqi security analyst who focuses on armed Shiite groups allied with Iran, stated that Iran could gain a strategic advantage from the coalition's exit because it eliminates a military presence that has functioned as a check on Tehran's influence in Iraq for several years.
Al-Bahadli also forecasted that the militia groups supporting Iran would not only present the withdrawal as a success for their cause but would also aim to convert that momentum into increased sway over political and security decision-making.
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