US Military Presence in Iraq Concludes as Last Troops Depart

The last remaining US troops have departed Iraq, marking the end of more than two decades of military presence that began in 2003 with the aim of deposing then-leader Saddam Hussein. Following Hussein's ousting, Iraq experienced a series of crises that led to significant instability and violence within the country. While the US military involvement is credited with preventing a complete state collapse, it has also faced criticism for contributing to the chaos that followed. The Iraqi government now faces a new reality without US military support. Experts such as Ahmed Rushdi, President of the House of Iraqi Expertise Foundation; Kenneth Katzman, Senior Fellow at The Soufan Center specializing in Middle East geopolitics and US foreign policy; and Abdullah Alshayji, Professor of Political Science at Kuwait University specializing in US politics and Gulf security, will be observing the implications of this transition.