US-Led Anti-Jihadist Coalition Completes Troop Withdrawal from Iraq

The last remaining troops of the US-led coalition against the Islamic State group have completed their withdrawal from Iraq, ending a military presence that began in 2014 in response to the group's rapid territorial gains at the time.

The withdrawal, which took place this Wednesday, marks the formal conclusion of a coalition mission that at its height involved dozens of countries providing military and logistical support to Iraqi forces battling the Islamic State.

Unresolved Questions on Armed Factions

The departure of coalition forces revives longstanding questions about the disarmament of pro-Iranian armed factions operating in Iraq, several of which have continued to resist calls to surrender their weapons. These groups, which grew in influence during and after the fight against the Islamic State, remain a significant factor in Iraq's security and political landscape.

The Iraqi government has previously called for the consolidation of arms under state control, but progress on integrating or disarming these factions has been slow, complicating the security picture even as the formal coalition mission draws to a close.

The withdrawal represents a significant milestone in Iraq's post-Islamic State transition, though the country's security situation continues to be shaped by the unresolved status of armed groups outside direct state control.