US troops to withdraw fully from Iraq after 23 years

American troops are set to return home from Iraq after as many as 23 years, another major development in world politics. The US had earlier pulled out of Afghanistan in a similar manner, and the world saw all the scenes of that withdrawal. Political observers say the main reasons behind the move are growing pressure from the Iraqi public and the conflict in the Middle East.

Against this backdrop, there is relief in Iraq on one side, while anxiety has grown among the Kurds on the other. Just as some people were pleased when the US came to Iraq, some are now expected to be hurt by its withdrawal, according to the information available.

The background is this: in 2003, the US invaded Iraq, accusing Saddam Hussein of possessing biological weapons. Because Iran and Afghanistan are mountainous, the US could not conquer those territories. In Iraq the situation is the opposite. There are no large mountains and the terrain is mostly flat, which made it possible for the US to defeat Saddam. The US brought about a change of power by enlisting some Iraqi political figures.

Saddam was hanged. In time, however, people of Islamist ideology came together in Iraq and began fighting the US in the name of ISIS. The US also began training the Iraqi government's army and supplied it with weapons. Some political analysts say Saddam Hussein was challenging American dominance and did not follow its rules. The view is that he was toppled over whether the US would retain control of Iraq's oil reserves.

The question now is what will happen to Kurdistan. The Kurds are an ethnic community with a large population in the Middle East. They live mainly in four countries: Iraq, Turkey, Iran and Syria. They have their own language, culture and national identity, but no sovereign state of their own. The American presence in Iraq gave them considerable support.

The US was the Kurds' backer there. It is therefore likely that once the US leaves, the Kurds will be weakened in their conflict with Iraqi Islamic groups. That is why there is relief in Iraq on one side and a hush on the other.

The reasons for the US withdrawal are also emerging. Having given the Iraqi army sufficient training and skills, the US no longer feels a great need to stay there. The growing conflict in the Middle East, especially with Iran, is also understood to be an important reason. The decision to withdraw was finalised when Joe Biden was president. When Donald Trump came to power, he retained the proposal and has now put it into effect.