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Trump Announces Last US Troops Are Withdrawing From Iraq
President Trump says the final American forces are leaving Iraq, marking a significant shift in US military presence in the Middle East.
By MauritiusNews Editorialabout 1 hour agoπ 0 views
US President Donald Trump has announced that the last remaining American troops are withdrawing from Iraq, signalling a major moment in the long and complicated history of US military involvement in the country.
Trump made the announcement without providing an immediate detailed timeline or breakdown of troop numbers, but the statement suggests a full drawdown of the American military footprint that has been present in Iraq in various forms since the 2003 invasion.
**Background: Why Are US Troops in Iraq?**
The United States first invaded Iraq in 2003, toppling the government of Saddam Hussein. After a formal withdrawal in 2011, US forces returned in 2014 at the request of the Iraqi government to help fight the Islamic State (ISIS), which had seized large swaths of Iraqi and Syrian territory.
Since the defeat of ISIS's territorial caliphate in 2019, the US has maintained a residual force in Iraq β numbering in the low thousands β in an advisory and counter-terrorism capacity. The continued presence has been a source of political tension in Iraq, where some political factions, particularly those aligned with Iran, have long demanded a full American exit.
**Why Does This Matter?**
A full US withdrawal from Iraq would be one of the most consequential shifts in American Middle East policy in decades. It would reduce direct US military influence in a country that sits at the crossroads of regional rivalries involving Iran, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Israel.
For Iraq itself, the departure raises questions about the country's ability to independently manage ongoing security threats, including residual ISIS activity in remote areas.
For the broader region, it could alter the balance of power, potentially increasing Iranian influence inside Iraq, and it comes at a time of already heightened tensions across the Middle East.
**What This Means**
This announcement β if confirmed and fully implemented β would mark the end of over two decades of continuous or near-continuous US military engagement in Iraq. It follows years of negotiations between Baghdad and Washington over the terms of any final drawdown, and pressure from Iraqi political factions who view the US presence as a violation of national sovereignty.
Whether the withdrawal is complete, phased, or leaves behind any diplomatic security personnel remains to be clarified by official US and Iraqi government statements.
Source: Le Defi Media
Frequently Asked Questions
Why were US troops still in Iraq?β
After the defeat of ISIS's territorial caliphate in 2019, the US maintained a residual force in Iraq β estimated at a few thousand troops β in an advisory and counter-terrorism role, following a request from the Iraqi government in 2014 to help combat ISIS.
What happens to Iraq's security after a US withdrawal?β
Iraq's own security forces, built up over years with US and coalition training, would take full responsibility. However, concerns remain about residual ISIS activity in remote regions and the potential for increased Iranian influence over Iraqi political and security institutions.
Has the US withdrawn from Iraq before?β
Yes. The US conducted a formal withdrawal from Iraq in December 2011 under President Obama, but returned in 2014 at Baghdad's request after ISIS rapidly seized large parts of northern and western Iraq.
