U.S. forces exit Iraq after two decades, leaving opening for Iran
U.S. forces are withdrawing from Iraq, marking the end of a two-decade military presence and creating a power vacuum that analysts expect Iran to fill. While the move is celebrated by local resistance groups, some fear the country is not yet prepared to manage its own security.
Why it matters
The withdrawal represents a significant shift in Middle Eastern power dynamics, potentially increasing Iranian influence and regional instability.
U.S. forces are set to pull out from their last bases in Iraq by Wednesday (September 30, 2026), a departure celebrated as a victory by Iran and its allies who now have deep influence in the country where 4,500 Americans died during more than two decades of war.
Iraqi security experts say the withdrawal — agreed in 2024 under then- President Joe Biden and carried out by Donald Trump’s administration even as it wages war against Iran — could give Tehran and its powerful allies free rein, while also allowing other U.S. enemies to stage a comeback, including Islamic State.
“Iran stands to benefit strategically from the coalition’s departure because it removes a military presence that for years acted as a counterweight to Tehran’s influence in Iraq,” said Jasim al-Bahadli, an Iraqi security analyst specialising in studying armed Shi’ite groups aligned with Iran.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in