The Prospect of US Military Withdrawal from Iraq

Strategic Council Online - Opinion: Although most currents, politicians and even ordinary people in Iraq call for withdrawal of American military forces from their country, there are sometimes differences of opinion regarding the time of this withdrawal. On the one hand, Mohammad Shia al-Sudani, the Prime Minister of Iraq, is very serious in demanding the withdrawal of American troops from Iraq. Still, he wants to achieve this goal through "negotiation and political deal". On the other hand, the Iraqi Resistance groups want the Americans to leave this country as soon as possible. The American side is also talking about a military withdrawal from Iraq in the next three years.

In an interview with the website of the Strategic Council on Foreign Relations regarding the prospect of the US withdrawal from Iraq, Siamak Kakaei said: “In recent months, following the operations of several Resistance groups against American bases and in return, US missile attacks against some headquarters and bases of the Resistance groups in Iraq and Syria Discussions about the necessity of withdrawing US military forces from Iraq have increased. Therefore, some groups and political currents in Iraq have asked the government to give a new order on this issue and follow up the request for the American military withdrawal from Iraq more seriously.

He added: “In the meantime, it is said that the Sudanese Shias have raised discussions about the withdrawal of the Americans from Iraq, but it has not yet been placed on the government’s agenda as a serious issue. Of course, before that, the Iraqi parliament had voted for the withdrawal of American troops from Iraq.

According to Kakaei, since Iraq enjoys a geopolitical position and America has established its largest embassy in this country, the issue of the US military withdrawal from Iraq will not be easy unless there are new changes in the US strategy in West Asia.

 

Kakaei said that it seems the views on the withdrawal of the Americans from Iraq are not the same in Iraq, adding: “In the north of the country, the Kurdistan Region, they strongly emphasize the continuation of the American military presence. But among some Iraqi groups, such as Resistance groups and Shiites, the issue of America’s withdrawal is being seriously pursued. “However, the Baghdad government has not presented a new plan and idea for the exit; Kakaei believes that in the perspective of American policy in West Asia, issues such as the continuation of military presence in Syria, Iraq, and the Persian Gulf region face ambiguities, but Washington also doubts that it wants to withdraw from these areas completely. For example, when Donald Trump decided to withdraw American troops from Syria, this decision was immediately canceled due to the recommendations of American strategists, and American forces remained in Syria.

He went on to say that the issue of the total withdrawal of the US from Iraq became more serious after the US made a complete military withdrawal from Afghanistan.

According to Kakaei, discussions and opinions about the regional role of the United States and the possibility of shifting or transferring power from the United States to other countries such as Russia, China, or Europe have put the issue of the presence of American forces in the region in a state of flux. Perhaps this is why a serious decision by the US to withdraw from Iraq completely is not envisaged in this situation. Especially since this year is an election year in America, and focusing on such issues may have electoral consequences for the Democrats.

The expert on Iraqi issues explained: “There is also the view that due to the escalation of the crisis in Gaza and the support the United States gives to the crimes of the Israeli regime in Gaza, the issue of the withdrawal of American troops from the region is more ambiguous, and perhaps this situation will lead to the withdrawal of the American military has been a challenge for the government and decision-making institutions of this country.

Finally, Kakaei said: “After the events of October 7 and the series of military actions carried out by the Americans in the region, the request of the public opinion of the region to protest against the presence of the United States has also increased; But concerning Iraq, the important issue is the decision of the government regarding the issue of the withdrawal of Americans, which should be seriously discussed in the decision-making institutions of Iraq and the government should finalize it.