On September 30, 2026, President Trump announced the return of the last remaining American forces in Iraq, ending Operation Inherent Resolve and a 12-year military mission. About 500 troops left, the presence having dropped from roughly 1,500 to a few hundred and then to nothing before a deadline set under the Biden administration. The discussion has moved to what replaces them: the anti-ISIS fight has shifted to Jordan, key Iran-backed militias say they will not disarm despite the prime minister's promise to Trump, and talks are underway to give them political roles in exchange. Kurdish leaders say nearly a thousand drones and missiles have hit their region with no air defenses, and more than 200,000 civilians were killed across the…