The last U.S. troops leave Iraq under an agreement between Baghdad and Washington, marking the end of the remaining American military presence there. ABC News and The Independent both report the withdrawal as the culmination of the planned U.S.-Iraq transition.
Following the departure, Kurdish concerns rise. Both outlets describe anxiety among Kurdish communities about security and political conditions in the post-withdrawal period. At the same time, militias celebrate the end of the U.S. military presence, reflecting differing reactions across Iraq’s factions and communities to the change in foreign troop deployment.
While the reporting agrees on the timing and broad implications of the withdrawal, it emphasizes different effects: one focus is on the heightened Kurdish apprehensions about future stability, while another highlights the public celebrations by militias. Together, the coverage portrays a transitional moment in Iraq with competing expectations about security, influence, and governance as U.S. forces depart.
