US forces reportedly withdraw from Iraq

U.S. armed forces have reportedly completed their withdrawal from Iraq, according to an Iraqi government source speaking to the German Press Agency on Sunday. While Washington has not yet provided official confirmation, reports indicate that both combat and support units have vacated their positions. Approximately 2,500 U.S. personnel had been stationed in the country at facilities in Erbil, the Baghdad airport, and the Green Zone.

This withdrawal concludes a deployment that began with the 2003 invasion and continued with a re-entry in 2014 to combat the Islamic State (IS). Although the IS "caliphate" was dismantled in 2017 in Iraq and 2019 in Syria, militant cells remain active. The exit follows a 2024 bilateral agreement aimed at ending the two-decade military presence.

As the Iraqi government prepares for four-day celebrations marking their "Independence Day," analysts warn of shifting regional power dynamics. Security experts note that the departure removes a strategic counterweight to Iranian influence in the region. There are concerns that this vacuum could provide operational freedom to pro-Iranian militias and potentially allow remnants of the Islamic State to regroup. While some sources suggest the final pullout is scheduled for completion by Wednesday, the situation remains under close observation by international observers.