After Two Decades, US Forces Leave Iraq as Baghdad Faces an Uncertain Future

US forces have formally left Iraq after more than two decades of military operations, marking the end of a presence that included the 2003 invasion, an eight-year occupation, and the campaign against ISIS. A quiet ceremony marked the withdrawal, with the last troops leaving Iraq’s Kurdistan region before the deadline. The Iraqi government calls the moment Sovereignty Day and says it will assume full responsibility for security. Yet Iran-backed militias are celebrating, and analysts warn Iraq’s future remains uncertain today.