The last American troops assigned to fight ISIS in Iraq pulled out of the country Wednesday, ending the mission that dismantled the extremists’ self-declared caliphate but raising fears about what might fill the vacuum as the Iran war grinds on.Though the Iraqi government welcomed the end of Operation Inherent Resolve, Kurdish officials in the north of the country said they were concerned the Biden-era decision was being carried out even after Iranian missiles pummeled them following the war launched by the United States and Israel earlier this year.Iran-backed militias in Iraq have attacked U.S.personnel and diplomats, as well as regional allies such as Saudi Arabia.
And there are fears Tehran could seek to capitalize on the U.S.withdrawal, with its proxies already celebrating the move, coupled with concerns about a potential resurgence in attacks by the remnants of the Islamic State terrorist group itself.Chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said the “orderly departure” marked “the successful conclusion of the military mission that defeated ISIS in Iraq,” in a statement Wednesday.
“This milestone reflects the success of a 12-year campaign that defeated ISIS as an organized military threat in Iraq and across the region.”U.S.soldiers fire artillery in support of Iraqi forces fighting ISIS militants from their base east of Mosul in 2017.Maya Alleruzzo / APThe 2014 U.S.-led mission was successful in dismantling the “caliphate” ISIS governed across around 40% of Iraq and one third of Syria, sweeping through that territory amid instability that followed the U.S.
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