U.S. ends ISIS-fighting mission in Iraq as regional security fears mount

Key Points:

• The last U.S. troops fighting ISIS in Iraq withdrew on Wednesday, ending Operation Inherent Resolve and marking the conclusion of a 12-year campaign that dismantled ISIS's self-declared caliphate across Iraq and Syria.
• Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi welcomed the withdrawal as the start of a new phase emphasizing Iraq’s sovereignty and institutional strength, while Kurdish officials expressed concern over the lack of established air defenses amid ongoing Iranian missile attacks in northern Iraq.
• Iran-backed militias have intensified attacks on U.S. personnel and regional allies, with fears that Tehran may exploit the U.S. withdrawal to expand its influence, as these militias hailed the pullout as a significant victory.
• Despite the military defeat of ISIS as an organized force, the group remains active in limited numbers across seven Iraqi provinces, generating income through extortion but currently incapable of major attacks.
• A reduced U.S. military presence will remain in Iraq to protect diplomats and continue providing training and intelligence support to Iraqi and Kurdish forces tasked with suppressing ISIS remnants.