Iraq to announce end date of Intl' coalition mission soon: Al-Sudani
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Iraq's prime minister says that the remaining elements of the ISIS terrorist group are no longer a threat to Iraq's "security and stability".
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Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani is pictured at an event in Basra, January 2023. (AFP)
Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani announced that the end date for the US-led international coalition's mission in Iraq will be revealed soon, emphasizing that the country has moved from a period of war to one of stability.
In an interview with Bloomberg published on Tuesday, the prime minister stated that the announcement will be made during the upcoming international conference against the terrorist group ISIS, noting that ending the coalition's mission is "part of the government's program."
"The justifications for the presence of the international coalition have ended, as there is no longer a need for the presence of a coalition of 86 countries," pointing to the "beginning of an honest dialogue with the coalition, which involved extensive discussions, based on our vision and assessments," he added.
Read more: Al-Sudani: Iraq is 'honestly' looking for 'quick' US exit
'Iraq today not what it was in 2014'
Al-Sudani said that he discussed the issue with US President Joe Biden during his visit to Washington, pointing out that the two "formed a bilateral committee in August of last year between military commanders to begin the dialogue."
He noted that the committee had reached agreements on coordinating the withdrawal process. However, while the results were initially expected to be presented and announced, concerns about potential misunderstandings and confusion prompted the decision to delay the announcement until Iraq's participation in an international coalition conference against ISIS, according to the prime minister.
Read more: Iraqi Resistance chief: We will resist until last US soldier is out
"Iraq today is not what it was in 2014. We defeated ISIS through the sacrifices and stance of the Iraqi people, as well as support from the international community and our friends."
Al-Sudani emphasized that "ISIS no longer represents a threat to the state, as Iraq has moved from a period of war to stability. The presence of ISIS as individuals hiding in caves and deserts does not rise to the level of threatening security and stability."
Washington's support for 'Israel' pressured withdrawal
Talks in Iraq about the future of the US military presence have become more pressing in light of Washington's insistence on supporting the Israeli genocide in Gaza, its involvement in efforts to expand the war in the Middle East, in addition to killing of members of the Popular Mobilization Forces in several airstrikes since October.
Read more: Al-Sudani to Blinken: US attacks violate Iraqi sovereignty
In early 2020, the Iraqi parliament voted to obligate the government to expel foreign forces from the country, cancel the security agreement with the US, and also withdraw the request for assistance from the international coalition against ISIS.
This came after the assassination of the commander of IRGC's al-Quds Force General Qassem Soleimani, and the deputy head of the Iraqi PMF, martyr Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, in a US strike near Baghdad International Airport.
