Tehran Times discusses Iraq’s security amid changing US military presence

Al-Wasat newspaper (Iraq) – a review of the international press

Writer Ali Minabi, in an article published by the Iranian Tehran Times on 20 September 2026, raised questions about the implications of the expected US military withdrawal on Iraq’s security and its regional relations, with a focus on the ability of Iraqi institutions to manage the next phase.

The author’s view is based on the possibility that any shortfall in security coordination could be exploited by parties seeking to expand their influence. The article links this possibility to issues of border control, internal negotiations over arms, and the positions of regional powers.

What does the article say?

Minabi sees the main challenge as extending beyond the mere departure of forces to determining which actor can assume security responsibilities and prevent tensions. He warns of the possibility of crises spilling across borders or of security incidents being used to escalate disputes between Iraq and neighboring states.

These scenarios represent the author’s assessments and do not mean their occurrence is certain, nor does their publication represent an official position of the Iranian government or an announcement from the relevant Iraqi authorities.

What needs to be verified?

The article refers to an expectation that a US-led military force will withdraw by the end of September. But this timing is presented within the analytical piece; Al-Wasat does not rely on it alone to confirm the departure date of all US forces or the scope of such a withdrawal.

To understand any announcement on the matter, a distinction must be made between the end of a specific military mission, the redeployment of forces, a full withdrawal, and the continuation of security cooperation under bilateral agreements. These are different arrangements and one cannot be used automatically as evidence of another.

Editorial reading: How is the impact of the change assessed?

Assessing the security situation requires information on the distribution of responsibilities, the continuation of information-sharing and training, and the readiness of forces charged with protecting borders and installations. The departure of a foreign force alone is not sufficient to prove the existence of a security vacuum, nor does its continued presence automatically guarantee stability.

For the Iraqi reader, the most important indicator is what competent authorities announce in terms of verifiable arrangements and what appears on the ground. The expectations in the article should be read as a political viewpoint that needs to be compared with official information and independent evidence.

Source: "Iraq’s security risks amid US withdrawal" by Ali Minabi, Tehran Times, 20 September 2026.