US forces to leave last bases in Iraq despite fears Iran will exploit withdrawal

What the report says

Sky News World reports that US forces are preparing to leave their last bases in Iraq, marking another step in the drawdown from a country where the United States has maintained a military presence for more than two decades. The outlet frames the move as significant because it comes after a long and costly campaign in Iraq, with thousands of American service members having died during the war and its aftermath.

The report says the withdrawal is taking place amid concern that Iran could try to benefit from the reduced US footprint. While the full article text was not available, the headline indicates that worries about regional influence and security are central to the story. The development is also likely to affect Iraq’s political and military balance, given the role US forces have played in training, advising and supporting Iraqi partners in recent years.

In broader context, the US military presence in Iraq has shifted repeatedly since the 2003 invasion, moving from combat operations to advisory and counterterrorism roles. A departure from the last bases would therefore represent an important symbolic and practical change, with implications for Iraq’s security relationship with Washington and for wider tensions involving Iran and other regional actors.