President Donald Trump confirmed the complete withdrawal of all U.S. forces from Iraq, calling the end of the 23-year mission a 'victory for the United States' and the conclusion of a 'very expensive excursion into Hell,' according to the President's official statement.
President Trump confirmed tonight the complete withdrawal of U.S. forces from Iraq, ending a military presence that began with the 2003 invasion. In a statement released at 20:23 Jerusalem, Trump hailed the completion as a 'victory for the United States [and Iraq]' and contrasted it with the 2021 Afghanistan withdrawal, which he called disorderly. Reports earlier in the day at 18:30 Jerusalem indicated the final pullout was underway. As The Zioneer reported in August, the U.S. and Iraqi governments had set September 30 as the deadline. Trump praised Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi and expressed confidence in Iraq's ability to handle its own security. The withdrawal removes Patriot air defense systems from Erbil and leaves a vacuum that Israeli and regional security analysts warn could be exploited by Iran-backed militias. The Zioneer continues to track the strategic implications for Israel and the region.
4 developments
- DevelopingUS, Iraqi officials confirm full US military withdrawal from Iraq by September 30
- DevelopingUS withdrawal from Iraq reportedly complete; Shiite militias advance on Kirkuk as Kurdish defenses collapse
- DevelopingAl-Monitor reports US to withdraw remaining forces from Iraq by September 30
- DevelopingTrump and Iraqi PM Al-Zaidi announce economic partnership, set militia disarmament deadline
Source and signal
- Open-source intake