Iraq begins high-stakes security balancing act as US troops withdraw

Iraq is set to hold four “Sovereignty Days”, a national holiday marking the complete withdrawal of US troops from the country and underscoring the deep symbolism of the exit after more than two decades of foreign intervention.Wednesday’s withdrawal deadline affirmed the exodus of a few hundred remaining US soldiers in the country, who have served in advisory roles in a coalition operation against ISIL (ISIS) first launched in 2015.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3Rubio warns of Iraq ‘Balkanisation’: Is that a real threat?list 2 of 3Trump rejects Iran’s seven-day roadmap to end war and reopen Hormuzlist 3 of 3Iraq seeks US exemption from ban on Iranian flightsend of listWhile the exit plan predates Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi, it fits into his wider vision of reasserting Iraqi state authority. That encompasses accelerating efforts to disarm all militias in the country by June 2027, including several powerful pro-Iran groups who have launched attacks throughout the region amid the US-Israeli war with Iran.Speaking at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) last week, al-Zaidi said his government was “striving to ensure that the state is the ultimate decision-maker in ...