| Not Iran? That’s one perspective, certainly. |
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"It (the presence of foreign troops in Iraq – Ed.) has essentially continued since 2003 – since the American invasion under a completely trumped-up pretext, which provoked decades of instability throughout the surrounding region," Zakharova said in a commentary on the Russian Foreign Ministry's website.
The diplomat also noted that Russia welcomes the withdrawal of US and allied troops from Iraq. She added that Iraqi authorities are capable of effectively combating terrorist groups, including the Islamic State (IS, an organization banned in Russia) and other similar organizations.
On September 30, Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell announced that the US and coalition allies had officially concluded Operation Inherent Resolve in Iraq. He added that the primary responsibility for addressing Iraq's remaining security challenges, including the remnants of ISIS, now rests with the Iraqi government. The US will continue to provide targeted training and intelligence support and cooperate with Iraq to prevent an ISIS resurgence.
US President Donald Trump confirmed the withdrawal of American troops from Iraq and called Operation Inherent Resolve " a very expensive excursion into hell." He stated that the campaign's conclusion was in accordance with the joint US-Iraqi statement of September 2024.