Complete withdrawal of US forces from Iraq, fears of a security vacuum.

The U.S. armed forces have completed their withdrawal from their last bases in Iraq, concluding a 23-year military presence. The operation, agreed upon in 2024 by the Biden administration, was carried out despite ongoing tensions with Iran.

The withdrawal, celebrated as a victory by Tehran and its allies in the region, raises serious concerns about a potential security vacuum. Analysts fear that the absence of U.S. troops could further strengthen Iran-backed Shia militias and give new momentum to the Islamic State group, which is in the process of reorganizing.

The American military presence in Iraq began in 2003, when a US-led coalition invaded the country to overthrow dictator Saddam Hussein. This action triggered years of instability, sectarian violence, and chaos, culminating in the rise of the Islamic State (ISIS) in 2014, which seized vast areas of the country.

To combat ISIS, the US returned to Iraq with a new mission in 2014, supporting Iraqi forces. Meanwhile, Iran gradually increased its influence through Shia paramilitary militias, becoming a key player. The agreement for a full withdrawal was negotiated in 2024 by President Joe Biden, but its implementation took place in a context of ongoing regional cold war between the US and Iran. Now there are fears that, without the American presence, the fragile balance of power could tilt in favor of pro-Iranian militias and that ISIS could take advantage to reorganize.