Iraq Marks Sovereignty Day as Final US Troop Withdrawal Ends a Decade-Long Mission Against ISIL

Iraq has begun a four-day national holiday to commemorate Sovereignty Day, a newly established observance marking the completion of the withdrawal of United States troops and international coalition forces from the country. The withdrawal brings an end to a military presence that spanned more than a decade and was originally built around the campaign to defeat the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL).

The announcement of the completed pullout prompted night-time celebrations across Iraq, with citizens taking to the streets to mark the occasion as the holiday period formally opened. The festive atmosphere reflected the significance many Iraqis attach to the departure of foreign forces, which has long been a contentious and politically charged issue in the country.

The coalition presence in Iraq dates back to the campaign against ISIL, which at its peak controlled vast swaths of Iraqi and Syrian territory. The campaign combined coalition air power with Iraqi ground forces, including the national army and various paramilitary formations, in a protracted and costly effort to roll back the group's territorial hold.

Over the course of that campaign, Iraqi cities that had fallen under ISIL control were gradually retaken, and the group's self-declared territorial entity was dismantled. The coalition's role evolved from direct combat support to advising, training, and assisting Iraqi security forces as the nature of the threat changed.

In recent years, the persistence of coalition troops on Iraqi soil became an increasingly delicate political question. Various Iraqi political factions and armed groups argued that the continued foreign military presence constituted a violation of national sovereignty, and calls for a timetable for departure grew louder over time.

The completion of the withdrawal is being framed by Iraqi officials and supporters of the move as a milestone in the country's effort to assert full control over its own security affairs. Sovereignty Day is intended to institutionalize that milestone as an annual national observance.

The four-day holiday period gives Iraqis an extended opportunity to participate in the commemorations, which officials hope will foster a sense of national unity and pride. Public gatherings, official statements, and media coverage are expected to dominate the agenda during the holiday.

Supporters of the withdrawal argue that Iraqi security forces have developed the capacity to manage residual threats independently, pointing to years of training and equipment provision by international partners. They contend that the country no longer requires an enduring foreign military footprint to protect its territory.

Critics, however, have raised questions about the timing and implications of the departure. Some analysts warn that ISIL cells remain active in parts of the country, conducting hit-and-run attacks, and that the removal of coalition support could create security gaps. These observers note that intelligence-sharing, surveillance capabilities, and air support were among the most valuable contributions of the international presence.

The withdrawal also carries broader regional significance. Iraq has long been a arena in which competing regional and global powers pursue their interests, and the departure of US-led forces could shift the strategic balance. Neighboring states and other external actors are likely to recalibrate their approaches as they assess what the new security landscape means for them.

For Washington, the completion of the withdrawal represents the closing of a chapter that began with the 2003 invasion and continued through the rise and fall of ISIL. The American public's appetite for prolonged military engagements in the region has diminished over the years, and successive administrations have sought to reduce the country's exposure in Iraq while retaining channels for cooperation.

Iraqi political leaders face the challenge of translating the symbolism of Sovereignty Day into durable stability. The country continues to grapple with reconstruction needs, economic pressures, and the task of integrating diverse armed groups into formal state structures. How effectively Baghdad manages these challenges will shape whether the withdrawal is remembered as a turning point or as a source of new vulnerabilities.

The holiday also serves as a moment of reflection on the human cost of more than a decade of conflict. Iraqi civilians bore the brunt of the fighting against ISIL, with widespread displacement, destruction of infrastructure, and loss of life. Many communities are still rebuilding, and the commemorations are likely to include tributes to those who died.

Regional observers will be watching closely for signs of how Iraq's security institutions perform in the absence of coalition support. The coming months will test the capacity of Iraqi forces to sustain pressure on extremist networks while avoiding the kind of sectarian and political fractures that have historically undermined stability.

The completion of the withdrawal was presented by its proponents as evidence that Iraq is reclaiming full authority over its affairs. Whether that assertion holds will depend less on the ceremonies surrounding Sovereignty Day and more on the day-to-day performance of Iraqi governance and security institutions in the period ahead.