U.S. Completes Iraq Military Withdrawal After 23 Years: What Comes Next For Baghdad?

Twenty-three years after the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq, Washington has completed the withdrawal of its remaining military forces from the country. The exit follows a phased transition agreed in 2024 and marks the end of the multinational anti-ISIS coalition's military presence in Iraq. The withdrawal comes at a sensitive moment for the Middle East, with regional tensions and concerns surrounding Iran adding to the uncertainty. Iraq is now preparing for a new phase focused on state-to-state training and intelligence cooperation, while the country looks back at the turbulent legacy of the 2003 invasion, the 2011 U.S. withdrawal and the return of American forces in 2014 after ISIS seized large parts of Iraqi territory.