United States military forces are scheduled to complete a full withdrawal from Iraq by September 30. Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi confirmed the timeline during a high-level meeting with President Donald Trump at the White House in Washington.
Addressing the presence of American troops, President Trump remarked that the military is no longer required in the region. While approximately 2,500 US personnel were previously stationed in Iraq to conduct counter-Islamic State operations, that figure has steadily decreased over recent months.
The withdrawal plan is tied to the Iraqi government's commitment to disarm influential, Iran-backed militias. Prime Minister al-Zaidi emphasized that following the September 30 deadline, his administration will strictly prohibit any entity from bearing arms outside of state control. "On September 30th, American forces will leave, and American companies will enter," al-Zaidi stated.
Beyond the military transition, the primary objective of al-Zaidi's visit to Washington is to secure significant American investment for Iraq's power, gas, and oil industries. President Trump noted that Iraq possesses tremendous potential due to its oil resources, and the two leaders previewed an upcoming announcement regarding a formal economic partnership between the two nations.
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