Iraq Prepares for Potential ISIS Threat from Syria Following US Troop Withdrawal

<p>Iraq is preparing for the possibility that Islamic State fighters could cross the border from Syria, according to the country's Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein. This statement was made on Thursday, one day after the U.S. military formally ended its counter-ISIS mission in Iraq.</p><p>Hussein informed reporters in Washington, D.C. that Baghdad is closely monitoring recent ISIS activity in Syria and warned that fighters entering Iraq could pose a renewed threat to the country's security. "We are worried about ISIS activities inside Syria," he stated, adding that Iraqi forces are preparing to confront any potential movements toward the border. He emphasized that Baghdad believes its military can manage the threat without the large U.S.-led coalition presence that previously assisted in defeating ISIS's self-declared caliphate.</p><p>"If they would be capable to cross the border, that would be once again a threat to our security," Hussein said. "We are preparing ourselves – if there will be any movement from inside Iraq — to fight them and to defeat them."</p><p>This warning follows the departure of the final U.S. forces under Operation Inherent Resolve on Wednesday.</p><p>Former President Donald Trump characterized the withdrawal as a victory over ISIS, stating that the terrorist group had been "completely decimated." He remarked, "We came to fight a caliphate, and there is no longer a caliphate, so we are going home. This day is a victory for the United States, a victory for Iraq, and a decisive victory over ISIS."</p><p>However, Hussein's warning came shortly after Syrian authorities reported dismantling an ISIS cell operating across four provinces, arresting four leaders and seizing explosives prepared for attacks. The cell was involved in kidnappings, assassinations, and planting explosive devices, according to Syrian security forces.</p><p>U.S. officials assess that ISIS has been significantly weakened and no longer poses a systemic threat to Iraq, although the group maintains scattered cells in both Iraq and Syria. The Pentagon has indicated that Iraqi forces are capable of managing the remaining threat independently, while U.S. forces continue counter-ISIS operations in Syria to prevent the group from reconstituting.</p><p>The withdrawal marks the conclusion of a U.S. military mission in Iraq that has evolved over more than two decades, significantly influencing American foreign policy. The 2003 invasion led to the ousting of Saddam Hussein but resulted in years of insurgency and sectarian violence, with nearly 4,500 U.S. service members killed before American forces withdrew in 2011.</p><p>Three years later, U.S. troops returned as ISIS advanced across large areas of Iraq and Syria, capturing Mosul and declaring a self-styled caliphate. The U.S. initiated Operation Inherent Resolve in 2014, leading an international coalition that assisted Iraqi forces in reclaiming territory held by ISIS.</p><p>Post-withdrawal, Iraq plans to establish a bilateral security relationship with the U.S., although discussions on the specifics have not yet commenced. Hussein noted that Baghdad and Washington had discussed the principle of a future security relationship during negotiations for the coalition’s departure, but details regarding training, intelligence sharing, or other military cooperation still need to be determined.</p><p>Additionally, Baghdad is working to bring Iran-backed militia groups operating outside regular security forces under government control, which has been a longstanding source of tension between Iraq and the U.S. Iraq initially set a September 30 deadline for armed groups to disarm or come under state authority, but this deadline has been extended to June 2027 due to resistance from powerful factions.</p><p>Hussein mentioned that one group had issued a statement supporting the government’s plan, with another expected to follow soon, while negotiations with other factions continue. "A single group will not be allowed to take the decision in their hands and attack other countries," he stated.</p><p>This issue has gained urgency as Iraq attempts to manage the repercussions of the conflict between the U.S. and Iran. Hussein confirmed that a recent attack on Saudi Arabia originated from Iraqi territory near the Iranian border, prompting an investigation by Baghdad and consultations with both Riyadh and Tehran. He has been in contact with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan regarding the attack and plans to visit Riyadh for further discussions. The investigation is ongoing.</p><p>Hussein described Iraq as being caught in the middle of the U.S.-Iran conflict, stating that Iraqi territory has been targeted by both sides. "We became a victim of this war," he said. He urged both Washington and Tehran to resolve the conflict through negotiations, seeking to prevent Iraq from being further drawn into the fighting.</p>