After more than six months of talks, the United States and Iraq look set to announce a significant agreement stipulating that the U.S.-led anti-Islamic State coalition will withdraw entirely from the country over the next two years.
A U.S. departure from Iraq has long been demanded by political factions in Baghdad aligned with Iran, especially since regional tensions surged after Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7. While Iran’s political allies in Iraq have used their considerable influence within the government, Iran’s militant proxies have launched 222 attacks on U.S. forces to force the issue. They appear to have won their point.
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