Tuesday, September 29, 2026
Home / World / Can Iraq handle future security challenges alone?
World

Can Iraq handle future security challenges alone?

CN
CitrixNews Staff
·
Can Iraq handle future security challenges alone?
play videoA giant Iraqi flag hangs off the reconstructed 12th century "Hadba" leaning minaret at the historic Great Mosque of al-Nuri in the old city of Mosul on September 29, 2026 as Iraq marks the withdrawal of the US-led anti-Islamic State coalition forces from the country.Video Duration 27 minutes 25 seconds play-arrow27:25

More than two decades of US military presence in Iraq comes to an end.

The last remaining US troops have left Iraq. The US military was first deployed to Iraq back in 2003 to depose its leader, Saddam Hussein.

It later faced a series of crises that ensued after the ousting of Hussein. Iraq became embroiled in a cycle of violence that considerably weakened the country.

While the US may have prevented the collapse of the state, it’s also accused of contributing to the subsequent chaos that engulfed it.

Is it up to the job? And who stands to gain from the US finally leaving Iraq?

Ahmed Rushdi – President of the House of Iraqi Expertise Foundation.

Kenneth Katzman – Senior fellow at The Soufan Center specialising in Middle East geopolitics and US foreign policy.

Abdullah Alshayji – Professor of political science at Kuwait University specialising in US politics and Gulf security.

Originally reported by Al Jazeera. Read the full story at the original source.