Washington: US troops are set to fully withdraw from Iraq by September 30, as announced by the country's prime minister, Ali al-Zaidi, during a meeting with President Donald Trump in Washington. The withdrawal is linked to efforts to disarm influential Iran-backed militias in Iraq. Previously, around 2,500 US troops were stationed in Iraq for counter-Islamic State operations, but this number has declined in recent months. Al-Zaidi's government has emphasized that the planned withdrawal coincides with the disarming of these militias.

According to Deutsche Welle, during the meeting at the White House, Trump expressed that the military presence in Iraq is no longer necessary. "Well, we don't think we need the military there anymore," Trump stated. Al-Zaidi confirmed that American forces will leave by the end of September, and from then on, the government will not permit any armed entities outside the state. The focus of al-Zaidi's visit to Washington is also to secure substantial US investment in Iraq's oil, gas, and power sectors.

Trump mentioned the potential for economic collaboration between the two nations, highlighting Iraq's oil resources. "We're going to be doing a lot of deals," Trump said, indicating plans to create jobs and extract oil, though he did not provide specific details. According to two Iraqi officials, Iraq, Chevron, TI Capital, and Qatar's UCC are expected to sign a deal to build a 2 million-barrel-per-day oil pipeline, connecting Basra to Haditha and extending to ports in Turkey and Syria.