Washington and Baghdad announce the end of the coalition’s military mission in Iraq
Baghdad and Washington announced Friday, the end date of the international coalition’s military mission in Iraq.
According to a joint statement by Baghdad and Washington, “Iraq and the United States of America have a strategic relationship, and as a result of consultations and discussions with the leadership of the international coalition to defeat ISIS and friendly member states, and intensive discussions within the US-Iraq Supreme Military Committee, which has worked diligently and professionally in intensive meetings over the past nine months, and after studying and evaluating the military and security situation in Iraq and the region, it announces the following:
First: Ending the coalition’s military mission in Iraq within the next twelve months, and no later than the end of September 2025, and moving to bilateral security partnerships that support Iraqi forces and maintain pressure on ISIS.
Second: Since Iraq is a key member of the coalition, and in order to prevent the return of the terrorist threat of ISIS from northeastern Syria, and depending on field conditions and consultations between Iraq, the United States, and coalition members, the coalition’s military mission operating in Syria from a platform to be determined by the Supreme Military Council will continue until September 2026.
Third: The Supreme Military Authority is committed to formulating the necessary procedures to achieve what is stated in the above paragraphs, and the timing and mechanisms for their implementation, including procedures to ensure the physical protection of coalition advisors present in Iraq during the transitional period, in accordance with the Iraqi constitution and laws. Practical steps to implement these obligations have begun.
Iraq thanks the coalition for the support and assistance it provided to the Iraqi security forces to confront this common threat and secure the defeat of ISIS on the ground in Iraq, and at the forefront of these countries is the United States of America, which stood with Iraq in difficult circumstances.
The coalition appreciates the role of Iraq and the great sacrifices made by all Iraqi security forces in fighting this terrorist organization that posed a threat to the entire world, and stresses the need to continue all efforts to ensure that the threat from this terrorist organization does not return in any form.
We look forward to strengthening relations between Iraq and the United States, as both countries seek to enhance security assistance and cooperation based on mutual respect, consistent with the U.S.-Iraq Strategic Framework Agreement and the Iraqi Constitution, and to advance an enduring bilateral partnership consistent with the U.S.-Iraq Joint Statement issued during Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani’s visit to Washington, D.C., on April 15-16, 2024, and the U.S.-Iraq Joint Statement following the Second U.S.-Iraq Joint Security Cooperation Dialogue held in Washington, D.C., on July 22-23, 2024.
This historic transition marks a decade since the formation of the coalition military mission in Iraq, and Iraq continues to cooperate with the United States and other coalition members to establish bilateral security relationships where appropriate.
In order to facilitate the safe and orderly conclusion of the international coalition’s military mission, the Government of Iraq affirms its commitment, in line with its international obligations, to protect international advisers present in Iraq at the invitation of the Iraqi Government.
Burathanews.com