Baghdad

The United States is preparing to withdraw its forces from Iraq after more than twenty years of military presence that began with the 2003 invasion. The drawdown marks a major shift in the American footprint in the Middle East, closing one of the longest overseas deployments in recent U.S. history and reshaping security arrangements with Baghdad.

A Baghdad official says the US military has completed its withdrawal from Iraq, marking the end of the American military presence that lasted for over two decades. The announcement is drawing attention to what comes next for Iraq's security situation and US-Iraq relations, with details about the timing and terms of the pullout still emerging.

Iraq has resumed oil trucking operations after the closure of the Strait of Hormuz disrupted tanker shipments, a key export route for its crude. Baghdad is relying on overland routes and its pipeline through Turkey to keep oil moving while the vital waterway remains shut. The move highlights how the closure is reshaping global energy flows.