US forces are leaving Iraq, where 4,500 of their soldiers were killed during the war regarded as the worst for the United States in the 21st century, in a move expected to strengthen the position of Iran’s powerful allies in the country.
The US withdrawal and its regional repercussions
The withdrawal comes as Washington wages war on Tehran, giving the departure of US forces a regional dimension that extends beyond the military presence in Iraq. Estimates of the move’s repercussions indicate that it will give Iran-aligned forces greater scope amid the ongoing confrontation between the two countries.
Meanwhile, Iraqi security officials said the withdrawal could also pave the way for the return of Islamic State, raising security concerns linked to the period after US forces leave.
The last US soldier was killed in Iraq during July, before the withdrawal was completed from a country where thousands of US service members were killed over the course of the war.
