Baghdad, 29 September, 2026 (Ghufran): US forces are set to leave their last bases in Iraq by Wednesday, ending a military presence of more than two decades and raising concerns over Iran’s influence and potential security gaps that could be exploited by Islamic State militants. The withdrawal was agreed between Washington and Baghdad in 2024 and is being completed under President Donald Trump’s administration. Iran and its allied armed groups in Iraq have described the departure as a victory. Iraqi security analysts have warned that Iran could gain greater strategic influence following the US withdrawal, while Iran-backed militia groups may seek a larger role in Iraq’s security and political decision-making. Some Iraqi officials and security figures have also expressed concerns that the country may not yet be fully prepared to manage its security without US support, with Sunni tribal leaders warning of a possible security vacuum. The United States invaded Iraq in 2003 and withdrew its forces in 2011, before returning in 2014 to support Iraqi forces against Islamic State, which was territorially defeated in Iraq in 2017. Kurdish and Iraqi security officials have warned that the loss of US intelligence, logistical support and drone capabilities could provide Islamic State with an opportunity to rebuild its sleeper-cell network. Iraqi security forces have also said they recently uncovered a suspected Islamic State plot to carry out suicide attacks around the time of the US withdrawal.