Top story: Six years after the U.S. invasion of Iraq, U.S. troops have withdrawn from Iraqi cities, ceding authority to Iraqi security forces. The pullout was met with celebrations in the streets and Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki called the withdrawal a "great victory for Iraq." More than 130,000 U.S. troops will remain in Iraq, stationed on forward operating bases throughout the country.
The U.S. announced the deaths of four soldiers in combat operations in Baghdad on Monday. The circumstances are still unclear.
The Iraqi government now faces the challenge of maintaining order amid an uptick in violence in Baghdad and other cities. You can read reactions to the withdrawal from FP bloggers Tom Ricks, Marc Lynch, and Peter Feaver as well as guest writers Anthony Shadid of the Washington Post and Joost Hilterman of the International Crisis Group.
Under the radar: Drug-related violence is increasing at an alarming rate on the U.S.-Canadian border.
Middle East
- Iran's Guardian Council says it found only slight irregularities in a recount of election ballots and declared the matter closed.
- The Israeli navy turned back a ship carrying aid to Gaza and pro-Palestinian activists.
- Iraq has begun auctioning off its oil and gas fields.
Americas
- Honduras's interim government is hanging on amid international condemnation after the ouster of President Manuel Zelaya. Zelaya says he will return to the country in two days and addressing the U.N. General Assembly today.
- President Rene Preval's party picked up five seats in Haiti's parliamentary elections.
- Mexico has freed 3 of the 10 mayors it detained for suspected drug cartel ties last month.
Asia
- A suicide bomber wearing a burqa attacked an Afghanistan-Pakistan border crossing.
- U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon is visiting Burma this week to press the regime about the case of imprisoned democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi.
- A major Taliban faction in Northwest Pakistan has pulled out of a peace deal with the central government.
- China has agreed to loan $950 million to Zimbabwe.
- Militants attacked two Royal Shell installations in the Niger Delta on Monday.
- Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad made a surprise visit to the African Union summit in Libya.
Europe
- With half the votes counted, Albania's parliamentary elections are going down to the wire.
- OSCE observers have pulled out of Georgia after Russia blocked an extension of their mission.
- Navy Admiral James Stavridis has taken over as U.S. and NATO commander in Europe.
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