Baghdad achieves a “political victory” as the US withdrawal begins and Iran’s influence declines.
Baghdad achieves a “political victory” as the US withdrawal begins and Iran’s influence declines.
2025-08-24 03:29
Shafaq News – Special Translation
The Eastern Herald, an international newspaper based in India, considered the US military withdrawal from Iraq a political victory for Baghdad on Sunday, reflecting Iraq’s independence from the dual influence of the US and Iran.
The newspaper reported in a report translated by Shafaq News Agency that “the United States has begun implementing a plan to withdraw its forces from Ain al-Asad Air Base in Anbar and facilities near Baghdad International Airport, a move Washington has described as a strategic move, but many in the region see it as an admission of declining American power and influence after two decades of military presence.”
The report added that “the withdrawal, which Iraqis have long demanded as a humiliating remnant of the occupation, came according to a two-phase plan agreed upon with Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani. The first phase, scheduled for completion by mid-September, includes the evacuation of large units of personnel and equipment from the western Anbar stronghold, with the likelihood of some forces being redeployed to Erbil in the Kurdistan Region. However, the scale of the withdrawal indicates the limitations of Washington’s ability to maintain its military dominance within Iraq.”
He continued: “For twenty years, the United States has presented its military presence in Iraq as a barrier against terrorism, but critics argue otherwise, arguing that this presence has contributed to fueling instability, strengthened the influence of militias, and transformed Iraq into an arena for geopolitical conflict. Especially since the Ain al-Asad base itself, which has been repeatedly subjected to missile and drone attacks, has become a symbol of resistance to the occupation rather than a symbol of security.”
The report confirmed that “in contrast, US officials assert that they are shifting to advisory and support roles while continuing to provide logistical support in the fight against ISIS. However, analysts believe that this formulation does not conceal the fact that Iraq no longer tolerates large-scale US combat operations, and that the Pentagon is attempting to portray the forced withdrawal as a voluntary option.”
According to the newspaper, “The withdrawal represents a political victory for Baghdad and aligns with the street’s demands to restore full sovereignty. Leaders in Baghdad believe that ending the US presence reflects Iraq’s independent decision-making, free from the duality of American and Iranian influence.”
The report warned, “As for the pro-Iran factions, which have long called for the immediate withdrawal of US forces, they have begun to express fears of a potential security vacuum that ISIS remnants could exploit, despite their agreement that the continued presence of US forces has been more of a burden than a contributing factor.” It considered that “the continued drone attacks on bases, the deaths of civilians in errant raids, and the arrogance of US military leaders have all deepened the conviction that Washington has contributed more to the chaos than to the stability of Iraq.”
shafaq.com
