Washington: US troops are set to fully withdraw from Iraq by September 30, as announced by Iraq's Prime Minister, Ali al-Zaidi, during a meeting with President Donald Trump. The withdrawal is linked to the disarmament of influential Iran-backed militias within the country, marking a strategic shift in US-Iraq relations.

According to Deutsche Welle, about 2,500 US troops have been deployed in Iraq, primarily for counter-Islamic State operations. However, this number has declined in recent months. Al-Zaidi's government has emphasized that the planned US withdrawal is contingent upon the disarming of powerful Iran-backed militias. "On September 30th, American forces will leave, and American companies will enter," al-Zaidi stated, underscoring the impending change. He further declared that post-September 30, no entity would be allowed to bear arms outside the state.

The primary focus of al-Zaidi's visit to Washington is to secure substantial US investment in Iraq's oil, gas, and power sectors. During their meeting in the Oval Office, al-Zaidi hinted at an upcoming announcement of an "economic partnership" between Iraq and the US. President Trump highlighted Iraq's potential, particularly due to its oil reserves, and expressed optimism about future collaborations. He mentioned plans for numerous deals that would create jobs in both countries and facilitate the extraction of significant oil resources.

Two Iraqi officials revealed that Iraq, Chevron, TI Capital, and Qatar's UCC are poised to sign an agreement to construct a 2 million-barrel-per-day oil pipeline. This pipeline will link Basra to Haditha and extend to ports in Turkey and Syria, indicating a significant infrastructure development and regional cooperation effort.