The United States is completing the withdrawal of its military personnel from its remaining bases in Iraq today. This move marks the conclusion of a drawdown plan that was previously negotiated under the Biden administration. While the withdrawal represents a significant shift in the US military footprint in the Middle East, it has triggered immediate concerns regarding the future stability of the Iraqi state.

Iraqi officials and regional security analysts have expressed apprehension that the sudden absence of US forces may create a power vacuum. According to reports, there is a prevailing fear that this transition could embolden Iran-backed militias operating within the country. Furthermore, experts suggest that the withdrawal might provide an opportunity for Islamic State (IS) fighters to regroup and rebuild their operational capabilities. While the US government has framed the move as a fulfillment of long-standing policy agreements, the local perspective focuses heavily on the potential for renewed sectarian violence and the loss of a strategic deterrent against extremist groups. The situation remains fluid as Iraqi security forces prepare to assume full control over the vacated installations.