Iraq announced the end of the U.S.-led international coalition’s military mission in the country. Qasim al-Araji, the Iraqi prime minister’s security adviser, said the new period would involve a shift to bilateral relations with coalition member states.
Al-Araji described the end of the coalition mission as an important turning point for Iraq. He said the transition was being carried out in line with negotiations that began in July 2021 and the agreements reached during that process.
U.S. forces completed their withdrawal from their remaining positions in Iraq by the end of this month. In the new period, which aims to strengthen Iraq’s sovereignty, relations will continue through bilateral security cooperation with coalition countries.
Al-Araji said the sacrifices of the Iraqi people and the courage of security forces from the country’s various units and formations had been decisive in the victory over ISIS. He added that support from the coalition and friendly countries had also contributed to the success.
Emphasizing that the end of the coalition mission did not mean the end of the partnership, Al-Araji said the relationship would continue in the form of bilateral cooperation.
In addition to cooperation in security and intelligence, the exchange of information and expertise and capacity-building efforts will continue on the basis of mutual respect and common interests.
Baghdad and Washington agreed on the transition timeline in September 2024
Baghdad and Washington agreed in September 2024 to end the coalition’s military mission in Iraq. The agreed timeline envisaged a transition period extending through the end of September 2026 and a shift to bilateral security relations with coalition member countries.
The U.S.-led coalition was formed after ISIS seized large areas of Iraq and Syria in 2014. The coalition provided Iraqi forces with air, intelligence and training support during operations against the group.
Iraq announced in December 2017 that it had reestablished control over all the territory seized by ISIS.
