U.S.-led coalition mission in Iraq formally ends

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Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi announced the conclusion of the coalition’s counter-Islamic State mission, and U.S. President Donald Trump said the remaining American forces are departing Iraq. The development follows years of military operations after the 2003 invasion and the coalition campaign against Islamic State, and it will test Iraq’s ability to maintain security independently amid continuing regional tensions. Other major stories reported on October 1 include intensified fighting involving Houthi forces in Yemen, strikes in Gaza and Ukraine, and heightened U.S.-Iran tensions; based on the available reporting, the Iraq withdrawal is the most consequential single strategic development.

Sources: Anadolu Agency, Xinhua News Agency, Reuters, CNN