US Troops Leave Iraq; Militias Keep Weapons
US Troops Leave Iraq; Militias Keep Weapons
The News
The last US troops are packing up in Iraq ahead of a withdrawal scheduled for Sept. 30, and the pro-Iran militias Baghdad promised to disarm are signaling their weapons are staying.
Baghdad initially tied the American pullout to disarmament, according to the Times of Israel. Tehran-backed groups are refusing to give up their arms until talks are held — and they want those talks only after US forces are gone.
The Independent reports Iraq faces two major deadlines at the end of September, with the troop withdrawal among them.
Timeline
With the last US troops packing up, militias signal their weapons will stay, The Independent reports. The Times of Israel reports Iraq's future is murky, with pro-Iran groups likely to retain arms after the pullout.
The scheduled date for the US withdrawal from Iraq, one of two major end-of-September deadlines facing the country.
Reactions
Tehran-backed militias have refused to hand over their weapons, saying disarmament can only be discussed in talks held after American forces leave, per the Times of Israel.
Baghdad's original position linked the US departure to disarming those groups — a condition that, on the reporting so far, has not been met.
What's Next
The Sept. 30 withdrawal date is the immediate marker. Whether the promised disarmament talks happen after the last American troops leave — and whether the militias take part — is the open question.
Poll
Should the US complete its Iraq withdrawal on Sept. 30?
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