The second phase would see the U.S. retain a residual presence in the autonomous Kurdistan Region in the north to support continued anti-IS operations in Syria, where the group still poses a significant threat. That phase would continue “until at least September 2026, subject to conditions on the ground and, obviously, consultations among future political leaders of Iraq and the United States,” an official said at the time.

🤨

Salih believes it’s possible the U.S. will also withdraw from Erbil next year, but believes “much will depend” on domestic politics in the U.S. The Trump administration may see a complete withdrawal as a “realization” of its campaign issue of ending endless wars.

🤨🤨🤨

I didn’t get pinged odd?

Regardless, I’m still suspicious after reading he article. It’s clear that the US doesn’t plan to leave their Kurdish puppets in the north, plus they mention various times that their will still be military personal in Iraq even after the supposed full withdrawal. There also Syria, which no doubt will have a larger presence in destabilizing Iraq, so in a sense they could just be moving troops from one puppet to another, specifically towards a puppet they’d rather not lose in order to stop a reestablishment of arms to Hezbollah and the Palestinian resistance.

Usually I’d be cautiously optimistic, but frankly I see no reason for the US to rp this unless they feel that it’s more of a burden then its worth.

Perhaps defending and supplying bases across Iraq is more costly then even we assumed after Israel’s lashing out. Now the US might be attempting to withdraw and rebuild into other territories less contested by the resistance like Syria, or the passage between Armenia and Azerbaijan (which is a red line of its own).

I see a future where the US directs its remaining forced to Syria, then aids a three pronged assualt on Hezbollah in Lebanon using the Lebanese puppets, Israel, and Syria. In the event that happens, bases in Iraq act as targets that drain resources which the resistance course hit in order to aid Hezbollah. By removing tge target, or relocating for a moment, the US may be trying to deal with Hezbollah as cleanly as they can with as little snags as possible.

The speed at which the US withdrawal is happening may be a sign that this confrontation is much closer then we expect. The Lebanese disarmament circus and this withdrawal line up too well for it to be a coincidence in my opinion. Not to mention the selling off of Syria to any front company available might be an indication that Jolani will try to placate the Syrian public through boosting the economy using war with help from the Americans. Of course Israel needs no excuse to butcher Lebanese people either.