WASHINGTON — The United States officially withdrew all its forces from Iraq today, ending a 23-year military involvement that began with the 2003 invasion and evolved through counter-insurgency operations, training missions, and a renewed fight against ISIS after 2011. The complete exit marks a strategic shift in Washington's Middle East posture.
The withdrawal fulfilled a core foreign policy pledge by President Donald Trump, who campaigned against what he called "endless wars." The decision reflects a broader effort to redirect U.S. military resources to other global priorities, chiefly competition with China.
For Iraq, the departure restores full sovereignty but places security squarely on Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani's government. Baghdad now must maintain control against persistent extremist threats, manage its borders, and facing complex relationships with regional powers—particularly Iran, which has deep influence inside Iraq.
Congressional reaction split along familiar lines. Senator Lindsey Graham, a South Carolina Republican, called the move "a dangerous gamble" for regional stability. Senator Bernie Sanders, a Vermont Independent, praised it as "long overdue." The Biden administration, which oversaw the final planning phases, said it would shift to diplomatic and economic engagement with Baghdad.
The 20-year presence cost the United States trillions of dollars and thousands of lives. Its departure removes a direct American security guarantor and will reshape regional power dynamics as Iran, Turkey, and other actors adjust to the absence of U.S. military presence.
