Trump hails US-led coalition withdrawal from Iraq as 'victory'

President Donald Trump has hailed the withdrawal of US-led coalition forces from Iraq as a “victory” for Washington, declaring an end to more than two decades of US military involvement in the country.“This day is a victory for the United States, a victory for Iraq, and a decisive victory over ISIS (Daesh),” Trump said on Wednesday in a post on his Truth Social platform, referring to the Daesh terror group that the coalition battled.Trump said Iraq now has a “wonderful” prime minister, adding: “I had a choice to stay or to leave, and felt, without question, that it was time for America to go home!”“Today, I am pleased to announce that the last American Forces are leaving Iraq!” Trump wrote.“It has been a long time, with very bad decision-making that got us involved in this quagmire in the first place, but soon, that will be part of History,” he added.Trump said the withdrawal would mark the end of “Operation Inherent Resolve” and described the departure of coalition forces and equipment from Erbil Air Base as an orderly conclusion to the US mission.“This is a Great Day for America and, importantly, we leave with Iraq having a wonderful new Prime Minister, Ali al-Zaidi, somebody I supported from the beginning and fully endorsed,” Trump said.“He won an Election that he was not expected to win, and did so, in a landslide!” he added.