Iraq and the United States: Return to the Status Quo or Calm Before the Storm?

Ten days after the Hamas attack on October 7th and the start of Israel’s bombing campaign in Gaza, Iran-aligned militias in Iraq resumed attacking U.S. troops in Iraq and Syria following a long period of inactivity. The January 28th deaths of three U.S. Army reservists at Tower 22, a base in Jordan supporting the U.S. mission in Syria, from a drone attack by an Iran-aligned militia in Iraq, highlights the risks faced by U.S. troops in the region. 

In mid-April, the Iraqi Prime Minister and U.S. Secretary of Defense discussed ongoing security cooperation and the future of the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS. Will U.S. troops actually leave Iraq and what are the implications on security, U.S. influence, and regional stability? Will Iran-aligned militias begin to escalate against U.S. troops in the near future? If so, how will Washington respond? What is the effect of U.S. troops in Iraq on Iraqi politics? And how can the U.S. continue to support Iraq and maintain influence after U.S. troops withdraw?
June 2024

17
2:00 PM ET
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Join us for a timely and important discussion with:

Sajad Jiyad

Sajad Jiyad is a fellow at Century International and director of the Shia Politics Working Group. An Iraqi political analyst based in Baghdad, he is the managing director of Bridge, an Iraqi nongovernmental organization & consultancy focused on development projects for young people. His main focus is on public policy & governance in Iraq.

Simona Foltyn

Simona Foltyn is an independent journalist and documentary filmmaker based in the Middle East. From 2018-2023, she was based full-time in Baghdad, covering the end of the war against ISIS and the subsequent fallout between the U.S. and Iran-aligned groups. Her writing has been published in the Guardian, the Financial Times, and Politico. 

Mohammed Shummary

Mohammed Shummary is a professor at Al-Nahrain University, College of Political Science in Baghdad. He is also the Chairman of the Sumeria Foundation for International Affairs, an Iraqi non-profit and independent foundation that focuses on enhancing Iraq’s relations with its regional and international surroundings. 

Steven Simon

Steven Simon is a Professor of Practice in Middle East Studies at the Henry M. Jackson School of International Studies of the University of Washington and Senior Research Fellow at the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft. From 2011 to 2012, he served on the National Security Council staff as senior director for Middle Eastern and North African affairs.

Adam Weinstein (Moderator)

Adam Weinstein is the Deputy Director of the Middle East Program at the Quincy Institute. He previously worked for KPMG’s international trade practice. Adam’s current research focuses on security, trade, and rule of law in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and the Middle East. He recently returned from a research trip to Iraq. 
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