US Withdraws Last Troops From Iraq

WASHINGTON — The United States announced it has now withdrawn its remaining military forces from Iraq, marking the end to operations that began more than two decades ago. The last of U.S. forces and equipment departed from Erbil Air Base, completing the withdrawal agreed to by Washington and Baghdad in 2024, U.S. Central Command announced yesterday in a statement. “The primary responsibility for addressing Iraq’s remaining security challenges, including ISIS remnants and Iran-aligned militias that undermine Iraqi sovereignty and regional stability, now rests with the Government of Iraq,” Chief Pentagon Spokesman Sean Parnell said in a separate statement. “The United States remains committed to counterterrorism and will continue to work with Iraq and our partners to ensure ISIS can never reconstitute from Iraqi territory,” he added.In 2003, the Bush administration sent military forces storming into Iraq and towards Baghdad with unproven claims that Saddam Hussein’s government possessed weapons of mass destruction. While it only took three weeks for U.S. forces to topple the Iraqi government, decades of sectarian violence and extremist uprisings ensued. The conflict also produced a series of scandals involving US forces, including abuses of detainees at Abu Ghraib prison.While U.S. forces did withdraw from the country in late 2011, they returned in 2014 to help fight against the Islamic State. U.S. troops have maintained a smaller presence in Iraq since then.“As we step back and hand full primary responsibility for Iraq’s security to the Government of Iraq and the brave people of Iraq, US and Coalition forces stationed across the region will remain ready to respond to any ISIS threats that arise,” Adm. Brad Cooper, CENTCOM commander, said in a press release.Parnell added that the U.S. expects Iraqi Security Forces “to lead the continuing effort to secure Iraq and keep ISIS remnants suppressed,” while the Defense Department will continue providing “targeted” training and intelligence support.The withdrawal comes as Washington and Tehran remain at an impasse over a ceasefire to end their seven-month war, while Iran’s political interests and influence in Iraq remain strong. For more of the latest in litigation, regulation, deals and financial services trends, sign up for Finance Docket, a partnership between Breaking Media publications Above the Law and Dealbreaker.