The United States will withdraw all its troops from Iraq by the end of next September. Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi, currently visiting Washington, announced this.
The US launched a military campaign against Saddam Hussein’s government in Iraq in 2003. Although Saddam was ousted, US troops remained in the country. Officials from both the US and Iraq believe that this troop withdrawal will mark the end of the 23-year US presence in the nation.
Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi is currently in the United States. He visited the White House yesterday, Tuesday, and held a meeting with US President Donald Trump.
“In a statement, the US Department of Defense (Pentagon) affirmed its commitment to the agreement signed with Iraq in 2024 regarding the conclusion of anti-ISIS operations. At the time of the agreement, approximately 2,500 US troops were deployed in Iraq.”
Standing alongside the Iraqi Prime Minister, Trump told reporters, “We do not believe there is any longer a need to keep our military forces there (in Iraq).”
President Trump also highlighted the growing relationship between Iraq and US oil companies.
The Iraqi Prime Minister told reporters, “US military forces will leave Iraq by September 30. However, US companies will continue their operations in Iraq.”
We do not believe there is any longer a need to keep our military forces there (in Iraq).
Donald Trump, US President
Meanwhile, the US Department of Defense (Pentagon) stated that it remains committed to the agreement signed with Iraq in 2024 to conclude anti-ISIS operations. Approximately 2,500 US troops were deployed in Iraq at the time that agreement was made.
It is worth noting that US bases in Iraq have been attacked multiple times amidst tensions involving Iran. Several attacks have also targeted the US Embassy in Baghdad. An Iran-backed armed group known as “Islamic Resistance in Iraq” claimed responsibility for these attacks on US bases and diplomatic missions.
