US Completes Troop Withdrawal from Iraq as ISIS Threat Looms

US forces have completed their withdrawal from Iraq, ending a military presence that began after the 2003 invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein. The pullback comes 23 years after the US-led coalition removed the former Iraqi president, a development that triggered widespread instability and eventually led to the rise of the Islamic State. Officials and observers note that the withdrawal is taking place amid rising fears of a possible ISIS resurgence in the country. The move is being monitored by regional and international actors concerned about the security implications for Iraq and the broader Middle East.