IRGC calls U.S. withdrawal from Iraq a “historic victory”: “Washington must leave the entire region”

Iran’s Revolutionary Guard (IRGC) has welcomed the withdrawal of U.S. forces from Iraq as a “historic victory” for the country’s resistance forces, while demanding that Washington withdraw its military presence from the entire Middle East, Al Jazeera reports, citing Iran’s ISNA news agency.

According to the Guard’s statement, the extensive U.S. military presence in the region is the root cause of instability. “The U.S. must leave the region and leave the management of security to the nations themselves,” the statement said, adding that the withdrawal from Iraq is “an important step on the path of liberation from dependence on foreigners.”

The IRGC also emphasized the human and financial costs of the U.S. military campaign and occupation in Iraq. “After twenty years of military intervention, with around five thousand dead, according to their own figures, and thousands wounded and disabled, as well as the spending of billions of dollars, it has achieved no meaningful result,” the statement said.

The statement comes a day after Iraq celebrated “Sovereignty Day” on October 1, marking the withdrawal of U.S. troops and international forces after more than a decade of mission against ISIS. Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi welcomed the withdrawal as “the realization of Iraq’s full and comprehensive sovereignty,” while Tehran sees the Americans’ departure as confirmation of its long-standing demand to end the foreign military presence in the region.