The US plan to “mostly” end its presence in Iraq is a “long-anticipated step, although it comes too late,” according to Dr. Muhannad Alazzeh, a former Jordanian senator and international rights commissioner. Speaking with Sputnik, Alazzeh highlighted the persistent casualties US forces have suffered at the hands of various militias, indicating that after years in Iraq, it seems the US has finally recognized that it’s time for “any illegitimate actor to withdraw.”
Alazzeh recalled the 2003 US invasion of Iraq, which was launched under false pretenses of weapons of mass destruction that were never found. He noted that the promises Washington made about liberating Iraqis and promoting democracy were left unfulfilled. Instead, the US leaves behind “a fractured landscape of armed conflicts between multiple factions, rampant corruption, and a bloated, ineffective administration.”
Dr. Alazzeh believes these recent plans are closely tied to upcoming US elections. “The US invaded Iraq for electoral reasons, and now they’re withdrawing for the same reasons,” he said.
Reports suggest Washington intends to keep a small contingent of troops in Iraq even after the main withdrawal. This aligns with the assessment of political analyst Dr. Hossein Askari, a professor emeritus at George Washington University.
“The US will not fully leave Iraq. It will maintain a presence to monitor Iran’s activities in Iraq and Syria, assess the impact on Israel, and support pro-American factions within Iraq,” Askari explained.
At the same time, Askari noted rising anti-American sentiment across the region, driven by US support for Israel in its actions against Palestinians. “In response, the Iraqi government is distancing itself from the US, emphasizing that its role in Iraq is winding down,” he added.