Trump calls withdrawal from Iraq ‘victory’ over ISIS: Why June 2027 is crucial for Baghdad now | Today’s news
US President Donald Trump hailed the withdrawal of US troops from Iraq as “a victory for the United States”, “a victory for Iraq”, “a decisive victory over ISIS”, and for Baghdad the end of the US military mission marks the beginning of another major security test – bringing Iranian-backed militias under state control.
The US military completed its withdrawal from Iraq on September 30, ending a 12-year mission against the Islamic State group. The last troops left Erbil in northern Iraq under a 2024 deal between Washington and Baghdad. The Pentagon said the mission had defeated ISIS as an organized military threat, while the US would continue to provide limited training and intelligence support to Iraqi forces.
Describing the departure as the end of a “very expensive excursion into hell,” Trump said the U.S. had accomplished its mission to defeat the Islamic State’s territorial caliphate.
Quick answers to key questions
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The US military has pulled out of Iraq as part of a 2024 deal with Baghdad, marking the end of a 12-year mission to defeat ISIS as an organized military threat.
After the withdrawal, Iraq will face the challenge of bringing Iranian-backed militias under state control and preventing the resurgence of ISIS while asserting the state’s monopoly on armed power.
The June 2027 deadline is crucial for Iraq to negotiate the disarmament of powerful militias and test its authority over armed groups, thereby demonstrating control over the country’s security.
Iranian-backed militias are hailing the US withdrawal as a victory, positioning themselves as defenders of Iraqi sovereignty while expressing opposition to disarmament efforts imposed by the Iraqi government.
Yes, the Iraqi government should be concerned because these militias threaten to undermine Iraqi sovereignty and stability, especially in the absence of US military support.
Baghdad now faces an unresolved question: Can Iraq establish sole state arms control while powerful Iranian-backed militias remain armed?
Baghdad’s new security test: Can it control the militia?
The most immediate outstanding question is not just whether American troops have left, but who controls the armed forces in Iraq.
Baghdad has sought to bring non-state armed groups under state power and initially linked the disarmament of militias to a September 30 US withdrawal deadline. Some smaller groups have agreed to surrender their weapons, but powerful Iranian factions have rejected the demand or set conditions for disarmament.
The Islamic Resistance in Iraq, an umbrella group of Iranian-backed militias, said negotiations with the government had failed to reach an agreement. It said it was not bound by any government-announced timeline or agreement, while saying it remained open to dialogue that guarantees Iraq’s sovereignty and dignity.
This leaves Baghdad with a difficult balance: enforcing the state’s arms monopoly while dealing with armed factions that have their own political influence, military capabilities and ties to Tehran.
Iran-backed militias celebrate US withdrawal
Iran-aligned groups are openly portraying the US withdrawal as a victory.
Abu Mujahid al-Assaf, a Kataib Hezbollah security official, described the withdrawal as the expulsion of “occupation forces” and the beginning of full Iraqi sovereignty. He also warned the Iraqi government against implementing what he described as American plans.
Reuters reported that Tehran and its allies saw the US withdrawal as a strategic gain, while analysts warned that the absence of US forces could provide more room for Iran-backed groups to exert influence in Iraq.
Will Iran benefit from a US withdrawal? The immediate political symbolism clearly benefits Tehran and its Iraqi allies: the American military presence long opposed by Iran-backed groups is now gone. But the longer-term balance will depend on whether Baghdad can maintain independent control over security policy and armed groups.
So a US withdrawal does not automatically mean that Iran is in control of Iraq. Instead, it removes one significant external military presence at a time when Tehran already has extensive political and militia relations in the country.
Why Iranian-backed militias refuse to disarm
The issue of the militia preceded the US withdrawal.
Prime Minister al-Zaidi initially pledged to disarm powerful Iranian-backed groups by September 30. Reuters reported that the government faces strong opposition from factions that have previously fought against US targets and maintain close ties to Tehran.
Disagreement centers on a fundamental question: whether armed groups should operate independently or be fully subordinated to the authority of the Iraqi state.
Some factions accepted the principle of arms regulation, while more powerful groups refused to hand over their arsenals immediately or attach conditions to any disarmament process.
The US withdrawal removes the original parallel of the September 30 deadline with the withdrawal of the coalition, but does not resolve the underlying dispute.
Why the June 2027 Militia Date Matters
Baghdad has now pushed back the goal of disarming the militias to June 2027, according to reports based on al-Zaidi’s recent comments.
The new deadline matters because it gives the Iraqi government additional time to negotiate with powerful armed factions after failing to secure their disarmament before the US pulls out.
But June 2027 also becomes an important test of Baghdad’s authority.
If the militias agree to surrender or formally integrate their weapons and command structures into state institutions, Baghdad could demonstrate greater control over Iraq’s security architecture. If powerful factions continue to reject the process, the June 2027 deadline could become another delayed target.
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Can Baghdad bring Iran-backed militias under state control?
The US withdrawal makes the issue more pressing, as Iraqi forces now bear primary responsibility for the country’s security.
The Pentagon said Washington would continue to provide targeted training and intelligence support, meaning the end of the combat mission did not represent a complete end to US-Iraq security cooperation.
So the challenge for Baghdad is twofold: prevent ISIS from resurgent while ensuring that Iranian-backed armed groups do not operate outside of state power.
A new phase – but the question of the militia remains
The US left Iraq after 12 years of its last military mission, and Trump declared the exit a victory. Baghdad also presented the moment as a milestone for Iraqi sovereignty.
But the withdrawal also shifts responsibility squarely to Iraq’s political and security institutions.
The unresolved issue of the militia will be central to this new phase. June 2027 is now the next big deadline, and its importance goes beyond the question of whether the weapons are handed over. It will test whether Baghdad can establish the authority it wants over all armed groups — while maintaining security in a country where powerful Iranian-backed factions remain.
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