Trump Hails End of US Presence in Iraq, Contrasts Iraq War with Iran Conflict
The President declared the withdrawal a victory and drew parallels between the 23-year Iraq conflict and the ongoing situation with Iran.
President Trump marked the final withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq on Wednesday, characterizing the departure as a significant achievement and expressing his belief that the conflict with Iran would not persist for decades.
Speaking at a Hispanic heritage celebration at the White House, Trump referred to the Iraq invasion, which began in 2003, as a "quagmire" and stated that "soon that part of history will be over." He also declared the day "a victory for the United States. It’s a victory for Iraq and a decisive victory over ISIS."
The president drew a contrast between the Iraq War, which resulted in the deaths of approximately 4,500 U.S. service members, and the ongoing engagement with Iran. He stated that the U.S. had been involved in Operation Epic Fury against Iran for six months with 18 fatalities, compared to the 23 years in Iraq.
Trump also mentioned a separate conflict, stating, "We have a war [with Venezuela] that was over in 148 minutes," and reiterated his intent to conclude the current situation with Iran swiftly. The departure of coalition forces and equipment from Erbil Air Base was described as the end of "a very expensive excursion into hell."