Coalition Forces Exit Iraq, Ending 12-Year Anti-IS Mission Amid Militia Tensions
The last US and UK troops have withdrawn from Iraq, concluding the 12-year Operation Inherent Resolve. While Baghdad and Washington frame the exit as a victory for Iraqi sovereignty and the defeat of Islamic State, the departure leaves a security vacuum. Kurdish officials fear increased vulnerability to Iranian-backed militias, while powerful armed groups have resisted disarmament deadlines, now pushed to June 2027.