Iraq to end of international coalition mission soon
Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani has confirmed that Iraq will soon announce the conclusion of the international coalition mission, marking a significant shift in the country’s security landscape.
Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani has confirmed that Iraq will soon announce the conclusion of the international coalition mission, marking a significant shift in the country’s security landscape.
In an exclusive interview with Bloomberg News, Al-Sudani stated that Iraq, now enjoying stability, no longer requires the presence of the coalition forces, which include troops from 86 countries.
“We will announce the date of the international coalition’s withdrawal from Iraq during the international conference against ISIS,” Al-Sudani said, underscoring that the mission’s end aligns with the government’s program and reflects Iraq’s improved security situation.
Al-Sudani’s comments followed recent discussions with US Army Maj. Gen. Kevin Leahy and US Ambassador to Iraq, Alina Romanowski, regarding the progress of technical talks to transition the coalition’s mission to a bilateral framework. He emphasized that the remnants of ISIS no longer pose a significant threat, reinforcing the rationale for ending the coalition’s operations.
Despite the presence of pro-Iranian militias, Iraq currently hosts around 2,500 US soldiers. The coalition, established in 2014, was instrumental in combating ISIS, which had seized significant territories before its defeat in 2017. Iraq has since been engaged in ongoing security operations against remaining ISIS elements.
The decision to conclude the coalition mission follows discussions initiated by Iraq in January and furthered by a delegation visit to Washington in July, aiming to finalize the transition of operations within the framework of Iraq’s bilateral relations with coalition member countries.
