Iraq, US review ending the international coalition’s mission

The Iraqi Prime Minister, Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani, and the US Ambassador to Iraq, Alina Romanowski, reviewed on Wednesday the Higher Military Commission’s discussion on concluding the international coalition’s mission in Iraq.

During their meeting in Baghdad, the two sides also discussed how to reach an agreement on a timeline for the withdrawal of the international coalition’s forces from the country, according to a statement released by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO).

The meeting also addressed the most recent regional and international developments, the ongoing war in Gaza, the Palestinian people’s suffering, the dangers of conflict spreading in the region, and the responsibility of major countries and international organizations to end the tragedy in the Gaza Strip.

In January, the Iraqi Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that Baghdad had agreed with Washington to establish a timetable for the withdrawal of the international coalition from Iraq.

The Iraqi ministry mentioned in a statement that the step follows the growing capabilities of the Iraqi forces.

Iraq and the United States agreed to launch a Higher Military Commission to evaluate the threat ISIS poses and to draw up a timetable for the gradual withdrawal of the advisors of the international coalition combating ISIS in Iraq.

The agreement calls for a shift to full bilateral cooperation in the areas of politics, economy, culture, security, and the armed forces with the other members of the international coalition, in accordance with the goals of the Iraqi government.