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Erbil International Airport in Erbil, Iraq. / Reuters, Yonhap

The U.S. military officially concluded its military mission in Iraq as of the 30th (local time). Reuters reported that while this withdrawal raises concerns over a security vacuum within Iraq, worries are also mounting over the expanding influence of pro-Iran militias and the potential regrouping of the Islamic State (IS).

The U.S. Department of Defense confirmed the official conclusion of Operation Inherent Resolve, the military campaign against IS.

Conducted primarily around the Erbil air base in the Kurdistan region, this withdrawal was executed according to a timeline agreed upon in 2024 during the administration of former U.S. President Joe Biden.

The U.S. military intervention in Iraq, which began in 2003 with the objective of ousting the Saddam Hussein regime, has reached a significant turning point after 23 years.

The U.S. military plans to maintain limited military training and intelligence-sharing cooperation with Iraqi security forces, with the Iraqi government taking the lead in securing its own stability and deterring IS remnants.

Domestic public opinion in Iraq is mixed. While voices supporting the U.S. withdrawal exist, concerns are also being raised over whether local security forces—having received U.S. training and support for over two decades—can independently maintain order.

Foreign policy and security experts are closely watching shifts in regional dynamics following the U.S. drawdown. Ahmed Younis, a Baghdad-based political analyst, pointed out the potential expansion of political and institutional influence among local pro-Iran proxies in the absence of Western military power.

Iran is seen viewing this withdrawal as an achievement for its regional allies.

Whether the threat of IS remnants will reemerge remains another primary issue. Security officials from both the Iraqi federal government and the Kurdistan Regional Government emphasize that vigilance cannot be lowered, as IS continues to maintain cell-based underground networks.

                                                                                                          Lee Jeong-eun