US Forces Prepare for Final Withdrawal from Iraq: A Turning Point for Iran's Influence

US Troops Set to Leave Iraq

Baghdad: The United States is on track to withdraw its remaining troops from Iraq by Wednesday, a move that is being hailed as a significant triumph by Iran and its allies. This development comes after the loss of 4,500 American lives over two decades of conflict. Experts in Iraqi security suggest that this withdrawal, which was agreed upon in 2024 during President Joe Biden's administration and executed by Donald Trump's team, may empower Tehran and its affiliates, while also potentially allowing other adversaries of the US, such as the Islamic State, to regain strength.

Jasimal-Ba hadli, an Iraqi security analyst focused on armed Shiite factions linked to Iran, noted, “Iran is likely to gain strategically from the coalition's exit, as it eliminates a military presence that has long countered Tehran's sway in Iraq.” Abu Mojtaba al-Yasiri, a leader within the Islamic Resistance in Iraq—a coalition of Iran-supported armed groups—characterized the US exit as “a monumental victory for the Iraqi Islamic resistance and honorable Iraqis, marking a significant defeat for the American agenda.”