U.S. forces exit Iraq amid Iran war. And, SCOTUS revives Trump deportation policy

Trump AI Summit, US Pulls Out Of Iraq, SCOTUS Third Country Deportations Good morning. You're reading the Up First newsletter. Subscribe here to get it delivered to your inbox, and listen to the Up First podcast for all the news you need to start your day. Today's top stories The last U.S. forces have left Iraq, more than two decades after the U.S.-led invasion that overthrew Saddam Hussein. Iraq has declared today "Sovereignty Day." The withdrawal comes as attacks linked to the U.S.-Iran war raise new questions about Iraq's ability to defend itself without U.S. air defenses. A US Air Force C-130 Hercules military transport aircraft prepares for takeoff from Camp Victory on the outskirts of Baghdad International Airport on Sept. 29, 2026. Ammar Karim/AFP via Getty Images hide caption toggle caption Ammar Karim/AFP via Getty Images 🎧 The Kurdish region of Iraq has been hit hard during the U.S. war with Iran, leaving its leaders concerned about their defenses, NPR's Jane Arraf tells Up First. This is not the first U.S. withdrawal from Iraq: Troops also left in 2011, before returning three years later to help fight ISIS. Iran-backed militias are celebrating the withdrawal. Arraf says ...