US officials have offered little clarity on the future of the two-decade US military presence in Iraq amid a “transition.” While the US-led coalition fighting ISIS is set to wind down by the end of 2025, there is a possibility of a prolonged military presence remaining. The joint announcement on Friday did not specify the future of US troops in Iraq, emphasizing that it is more of a transition than a complete withdrawal.
The wind-down process is expected to occur in two phases, with the first phase ending in September 2025, involving the removal of coalition forces from certain locations in Iraq. The second phase will see the US continue to operate in Iraq until at least 2026 to support anti-ISIS coalition efforts in Syria. The future of US-Iraq defense ties will shift to an expanded bilateral security relationship, but whether this will entail a total withdrawal of US troops remains uncertain.
The US initially invaded Iraq in 2003 as part of the global “war on terror,” withdrawing most troops by 2011 but redeploying forces in 2014 as ISIS gained control of territory in Iraq and Syria. The Biden administration shifted US troops to an advisory role in 2021 and has been in talks with Iraqi officials about further troop reductions. The presence of US troops has been a political issue in Iraq, facing opposition from influential government segments and attacks from Iran-aligned militias. While attacks have decreased recently, the future of US military presence in Iraq remains uncertain.
Source
Photo credit www.aljazeera.com