Withdrawal of Troops from Iraq by the US

The United States is in the process of withdrawing some of its troops from military bases in Iraq, marking a significant shift in the US military presence in the Middle Eastern country. However, it's important to note that there has been no initial official confirmation from the US or Iraq regarding the troop withdrawal.

The operation against the terrorist organization Islamic State (IS) began after the group overran large areas in both Iraq and Syria in 2014. The US leads an international coalition in Iraq and Syria in the fight against IS.

Initially, the US announced about a year ago that it would realign its military presence in Iraq towards a security partnership, which was not initially considered a troop withdrawal. This realignment is now materializing, with troops being withdrawn from military bases such as Ain al-Assad in the province of Anbar and the base of Victoria near Baghdad International Airport.

Despite being militarily defeated, IS fighters are still active in both Iraq and Syria and carry out attacks. Iraqi security forces continue to rely on the help of the US military for ground and air operations to capture or kill IS leaders. Some US troops will remain at the bases in an advisory and training capacity.

The US troops leaving Iraq will be stationed in the Iraqi Kurdish region and neighboring Kuwait in the future. The precise current number of US troops stationed in the Iraqi Kurdish region and neighboring Kuwait is not specified, but it is known that the US military is drastically reducing its troop presence in Iraq, though not yet fully withdrawn.

Iraq's Prime Minister Mohammed al-Sudani is under pressure from Iran-backed groups, political parties, and militias to speed up the withdrawal of US troops. This pressure comes as part of a broader regional power struggle in the Middle East.

The troop withdrawal is part of a previous agreement between the governments in Baghdad and Washington to partially withdraw from some locations by the end of September. The agreement was reached amidst growing political tensions between the two nations.

It's worth noting that according to the US government, there were approximately 2,500 American soldiers stationed in Iraq, while Iraqi sources put the number at over 3,000. The exact number of troops in Iraq has been a point of contention between the two governments.

In Syria, there were around 700 US soldiers, according to the Pentagon. The US military presence in both Iraq and Syria is part of a broader international effort to combat terrorism and maintain regional stability.

As the situation evolves, it is crucial to monitor developments and understand their implications for the region and the world at large. The US troop withdrawal from Iraq is a significant event that will have far-reaching consequences for the Middle East and beyond.