At a Glance

• Prime Minister Ali Faleh al-Zaidi meets with U.S. CENTCOM Commander Charles Brad Cooper.
• Sept. 30 confirmed as the final deadline to end the international coalition's military mission.
• Oct. 1 set to mark full national sovereignty with zero foreign military presence.
• Transition shifts U.S.-Iraq relations toward economic, security, and development partnerships.

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Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Faleh al-Zaidi received the Commander of United States Central Command, General Charles Brad Cooper, on Wednesday, explicitly confirming September 30 as the final, non-negotiable deadline for ending the military mission of the U.S.-led international coalition and completing the exit of foreign troops from Iraqi territory.

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Key Statements and Focus Area

• Firm Exit Deadline: "September 30 will be a fixed and final date for ending the military mission of the international coalition in Iraq and completing the departure of its forces," Prime Minister Ali Faleh al-Zaidi declared during the bilateral meeting.
• Full Sovereignty Reclaimed: "October 1 will be a new day in the trajectory of the Iraqi state, Iraq will be free of any foreign military presence, having completed its full national sovereignty and built up its security capabilities to protect its own stability," al-Zaidi stated.
• Monopoly on Arms: "Restricting arms exclusively to the hand of the state under the law protects everyone, strengthens state authority, and serves as an essential prerequisite for Iraq's transition toward development and prosperity," the Prime Minister emphasized.
• Bilateral Strategic Shift: "Iraqi-American relations will transition toward cooperation and partnership across economic, developmental, and security domains based on mutual respect for sovereignty," both parties affirmed.

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Commitment to Final Withdrawal Schedule

During high-level talks in Baghdad, Prime Minister Ali Faleh al-Zaidi and CENTCOM Commander Charles Brad Cooper reviewed the logistical and operational framework governing the international coalition's drawdown. The Iraqi government emphasized strict adherence to the agreed-upon timelines established during al-Zaidi's mid-July visit to Washington. Both sides confirmed that the mission to defeat ISIS in its current military configuration will officially conclude by September 30, paving the way for complete territorial independence.

National Governance and Domestic Security

Prime Minister al-Zaidi framed the impending departure of foreign troops as a critical moment for internal reform and constitutional adherence. Calling on the Iraqi population to direct their energies toward economic construction and development, al-Zaidi underlined that enforcing state control over weaponry is vital to ensuring long-term political stability. The Prime Minister stressed that consolidating military authority solely under state institutions protects national interests and establishes the foundation for sustainable prosperity.

Future Framework of U.S.-Iraq Relations

Both delegations agreed that the conclusion of the coalition's combat role does not signal an end to bilateral engagement, but rather a structural transformation. In alignment with previous diplomatic understandings reached in Washington, future ties between Iraq and the United States will focus on bilateral security arrangements, joint economic development, and institutional capacity-building built upon shared interests and mutual respect for national sovereignty.

FYI

The announcement marks the culmination of multi-year negotiations conducted via the U.S.-Iraq Higher Military Commission (HMC), established to evaluate the operational status of ISIS, environmental risks, and local security force capabilities. As part of a phased transition agreement finalized earlier in 2026, the military footprint of the Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve (CJTF-OIR) is scheduled to wind down in Iraq by late 2026, while advisory and security cooperation activities in neighboring Syria will remain operational through mid-2027 to prevent any resurgence of the extremist group across the border.

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