WASHINGTON (September 29, 2026) – After two decades, U.S. forces are set to leave Iraq. American troops arrived in 2003 to overthrow dictator Saddam Hussein, and went on to occupy the country before withdrawing at the end of 2011. U.S. forces returned less than 3 years later to help Iraqi forces defeat the Sunni militant group Islamic State in a major war from 2014 to 2017.
In recent years, Iraq has been the only country to maintain close political and military alliances with both the United States and Iran. The U.S. withdrawal could mark a new chapter in Iraq’s relationship with both countries and reshape the regional balance of power.
For more analysis on these developments, please consider Gordon Gray, Kuwait Professor of Gulf and Arabian Peninsula Affairs at the GW Elliott School of International Affairs. Gray worked for the U.S. government for 35 years. Gray’s public service included U.S. Ambassador to Tunisia from 2009-2012, Senior Advisory to the Ambassador in Iraq 2008-2009, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs from 2005- 2008. His other foreign assignments included Egypt (where he served as Deputy Chief of Mission from 2002 until 2005), Canada, Jordan, Pakistan, and Morocco, where he began his career as a Peace Corps volunteer.
To schedule an interview, please contact Nadia Payne at nadia [dot] payne
gwu [dot] edu (nadia[dot]payne[at]gwu[dot]edu) or GW media at gwmediagwu [dot] edu (gwmedia[at]gwu[dot]edu).
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