US forces are set to pull out from their last bases in Iraq, leaving the country where 4,500 of their comrades died over more than 20 years of war.
Iraqi security experts have warned that the withdrawal could give Tehran and its allies free rein while also risking a comeback from the Islamic State terror group.
The move was agreed in 2024 under President Joe Biden and carried out by President Donald Trump's administration, even as it wages war against Iran.
"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. (Read More)
