Iraq has announced that September 30 will mark the final deadline for the withdrawal of the “international coalition” forces, in accordance with the timelines agreed upon between Baghdad and the coalition, affirming the readiness of its security forces to take over the security file and protect the country and its borders.
Speaking to the Iraqi News Agency (INA), Director of Media and Moral Guidance at the Ministry of Defense, Major General Tahseen al-Khafaji, said that “September 30 is a final deadline and falls within the timelines set by the Iraqi state in agreement with the international coalition,” noting that the matter “was not something that came about suddenly, but rather the result of prior planning and work being carried out according to these committed timelines.”
Al-Khafaji pointed out that this day “will be a national, sovereign, and distinctive day for Iraqis.”
Responding to questions about the repercussions of the withdrawal, he affirmed that the Iraqi Army, the Ministries of Defense and Interior, and the security forces have undergone a series of tests and challenges that demonstrated their ability to protect the country and its borders and to take over and manage the security file.
He explained that the security forces had carried out extensive operations to pursue terrorism and succeeded in building a “highly advanced intelligence system that reached its strongholds,” in addition to successfully managing mass pilgrimages, national and religious occasions, and international and regional conferences, considering this to “prove their full eligibility to assume responsibility.”
Regarding the future of military cooperation, al-Khafaji explained that the relationship with the international coalition “was established on combating the terrorist ISIS gangs, achieving victory over them, and ending this operation.”
He noted that Iraq is free to choose its training, armament, and cooperation paths with any country in the world, pointing out that the advanced and major countries that assisted Iraq “will continue to cooperate in the fields of armament and capacity building.”
He added that the security establishment continues to train its units according to the highest standards adopted by military schools worldwide, noting the direct attention of the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces to arming the security apparatus, particularly the Ministry of Defense, especially the Air Force, Army Aviation, and Air Defense, stressing that “this is a sovereign matter specific to Iraq.”
Al-Khafaji stressed that Iraq’s message to the world confirms that the army, the Ministries of Defense and Interior, the security commands, and the Popular Mobilization Forces constitute an advanced security system operating through joint coordination and capable of protecting the country with high-level capabilities.
He reiterated that “there is no place for terrorists in Iraq again,” and that “the borders and the people are safe,” stressing that protecting national security “is an internal matter managed efficiently by the security forces.”
Earlier, Iraqi President Nizar Amidi announced that September 30 would be the official date for the end of the “international coalition’s” mission in Iraqi territory, explaining that the state no longer sees a need for these forces to remain, given the changes in the field and security conditions that had necessitated their deployment in previous years.
He noted that the US-led coalition entered the country at the request of the Iraqi government to confront threats from the Islamic State organization, a role that effectively ended with the establishment of national control.
The plan to end the coalition’s mission is based on a two-phase timeline agreed upon in September 2024. The first phase includes handing over military bases and transitioning to bilateral relations, while the second phase extends until the autumn of 2026 to ensure continued logistical support for operations against the so-called “organization” in Syria.
