United States forces are set to pull out from their last bases in Iraq by Wednesday, Reuters reports, a departure that marks a major shift in the region. This exit follows an agreement reached in 2024 under President Joe Biden, and it is being carried out by the administration of President Donald Trump. While the move is being celebrated as a victory by Iran and its regional allies, it also leaves a significant power vacuum that has many observers concerned about the future stability of the country.
The departure follows more than two decades of conflict in Iraq, a period during which 4,500 Americans lost their lives. American forces first entered the country in 2003 to remove Saddam Hussein, later returning in 2014 to lead the fight against the Islamic State. Now, the landscape is changing again.
