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Can Baghdad Finally Escape Iran Shadow After US Troop Withdrawal
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Firstpost•12-10-2026, 15:11
Can Baghdad Finally Escape Iran Shadow After US Troop Withdrawal
- •The 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq sowed the seeds of deep regional instability and inadvertently handed Tehran significant influence through powerful proxy groups.
- •While the US-led coalition mission in federal Iraq concluded, significant security questions remain regarding troop relocations to the Kurdish region and ongoing intelligence ties.
- •Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi set a deadline of June 30, 2027, to disarm and integrate powerful Iran-aligned militias into the regular forces.
- •Over 60 groups under the Popular Mobilisation Forces pose a challenge to state sovereignty, with vast combatant numbers and deep allegiance to Iran.
- •True stability in Iraq depends on political structural reforms, curbing autonomous power centers, and securing genuine international support.
Key Questions Answered
The US-led coalition's military mission in federal Iraq officially ended on September 30, 2026, following Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi's visit to the White House.
Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi has set a deadline of June 30, 2027, to disarm militias in Iraq and absorb willing members into regular forces.
The Iraqi government plans to offer a total of 35,000 positions to individuals who choose to surrender their arms and integrate with the central authority.
