US forces complete full withdrawal from Iraq after 23yrs

To mark the conclusion of foreign military presence, the Iraqi government declared a four-day official holiday, with nationwide celebrations erupting across the country.

A spokesperson for the Iraqi Ministry of Defence confirmed to Al Jazeera that the last remaining US troops departed on Tuesday (September 29), ahead of the scheduled deadline. The spokesperson affirmed that Iraqi security forces are fully capable of maintaining national sovereignty.

Commenting on the departure, Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi stated that the withdrawal marks the dawn of a new era, restoring full national sovereignty over Iraqi territory free from foreign military forces.

The withdrawal stems from an agreement initiated in 2024 by former US President Joe Biden, which systematically scaled down the remaining 2,500 troops stationed across Iraq and its semi-autonomous Kurdish region.

While commanders of local armed groups hailed the pullout as a landmark victory, tribal leaders and security analysts expressed concern over potential power vacuums.

Analysts noted that the absence of US forces could allow Tehran-backed groups to expand their influence across the region, potentially shifting the strategic balance amid ongoing Middle Eastern geopolitical tensions.