President Donald Trump confirmed Wednesday evening that all US forces have withdrawn from Iraq, ending a military presence that began with the 2003 invasion. Trump called the departure a 'victory for the United States and Iraq' and the end of a 'very expensive excursion into Hell,' according to his statement carried by multiple outlets. Israeli analysts note the withdrawal leaves a vacuum that pro-Iranian militias may seek to fill, as their disarmament remains unresolved.
President Donald Trump confirmed Wednesday evening that the United States has completed its military withdrawal from Iraq, bringing a definitive end to more than two decades of American presence that began with the 2003 invasion.
In a statement carried by multiple outlets, Trump described the departure as a "victory for the United States [and Iraq]" and the end of a "very expensive excursion into Hell." He noted that Operation Inherent Resolve, launched in 2014 against the Islamic State, had concluded, and contrasted the orderly exit with the 2021 withdrawal from Afghanistan.
As The Zioneer reported earlier this evening (Wed 20:24), the confirmation follows the September 30 deadline set by U.S. and Iraqi officials in August. Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi, praised by Trump, had declared the date the final deadline for the coalition mission.
Israeli analysts, including Asaf Rozentzweig (N12), assess that the withdrawal creates a strategic vacuum in Iraq. While the U.S. departure is complete, the parallel demand for Iran-backed militias to disarm remains unmet, raising concerns that Tehran-aligned factions will seek to fill the void left by departing American forces.
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