US Troops Withdrawal from Iraq: Rising Tensions and Demands
Pro-Iranian factions in Iraq issued a call on Friday for the withdrawal of US troop forces from the country. This demand comes in the wake of intensified tensions following a series of Israeli airstrikes targeting Iran. With the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict, which escalated in October 2023, these Tehran-aligned groups have increased rocket and drone attacks on military bases housing US personnel stationed in Iraq and neighboring Syria.
The powerful militia group, Kataeb Hezbollah, accused US President Donald Trump of facilitating Israel’s major offensive against Iran. In a press release, they claimed that American troops in Iraq had “enabled this aggression” by allowing Israeli aircraft access to Iraqi airspace. To avert turning Iraq into a battleground, Kataeb Hezbollah urged the Baghdad government to act swiftly to expel these foreign military forces, stating that doing so would be essential to prevent further conflicts in the region.
Call for Complete Withdrawal
Akram al-Kaabi, leader of the Al-Nujaba faction, also expressed strong condemnation of what he described as a coordinated effort between Israel and American forces. He echoed calls for the “complete withdrawal” of US troops from Iraqi soil. US military presence in Iraq has been justified since it was requested by the Iraqi government to aid in the fight against the Islamic State. However, the resurgence of pro-Iran militant activities following the recent Gaza conflict has heightened the stakes considerably.
Despite these tensions, US forces have responded to the wave of attacks with heavy strikes against Iran-linked targets, which has recently curtailed the frequency of assaults on their bases. The US military and Iraqi officials have underscored that collaboration remains focused on combating ISIS, but the increasingly hostile environment complicates that mission.
Timeline for Military Mission Conclusion
In a significant development, both the United States and Iraq announced plans to conclude their anti-ISIS military mission in federal Iraq by the end of 2025. This shift is expected to extend to the Kurdistan region of Iraq, where foreign military operations are slated to wrap up by September 2026. Currently, approximately 2,500 US troops are stationed throughout Iraq as part of this coalition effort.
As the deadline for withdrawal approaches, the geopolitical landscape remains fraught with uncertainty. The demands for the exit of US military forces are likely to intensify, particularly as regional powers recalibrate their strategies in response to both the Israeli attacks and the humanitarian crisis unfolding in Gaza.
