Amedi: Iraq Has No Need for Coalition Forces
At a Glance
- Iraq prioritizes national interests
- Most armed groups have disarmed
- Coalition withdrawal remains set for September 30
- Amedi defends Peshmerga’s constitutional status
President Nizar Amedi outlined Iraq’s position on the disarmament process, the planned withdrawal of International Coalition forces, and the country’s approach to regional conflicts during a panel discussion at the 8th Baghdad Dialogue Conference.
Key Statements and Focus Area
- Nizar Amedi on coalition forces: “Iraq does not require the presence of International Coalition military forces” at present.
- On armed groups: Only “two or three” factions have yet to surrender their weapons to the state.
Amedi said Iraq remains influenced by its regional surroundings but stressed that the country’s decisions are guided by its national interests. He described “Iraq First” as the founding principle governing Baghdad’s relations with foreign countries. The president also said he believes Washington genuinely wants to bring the ongoing war to an end.
Amedi said the September 30 deadline for the withdrawal of U.S.-led International Coalition forces was originally established by the previous government. He added that Iraq currently does not require the presence of International Coalition military forces.
The president said the disarmament process has made significant progress, with only two or three armed factions yet to hand their weapons over to the state. He called for dialogue and understanding with the remaining factions, while emphasizing that all weapons must ultimately come under state authority.
Amedi also recognized the sacrifices made by these groups in the fight against ISIS and called on them to fully integrate into Iraq’s official security forces.
Amedi said Iraq will not accept its territory being used to launch attacks against neighboring countries.
He also said no Iranian official has asked Baghdad to postpone its disarmament deadline. According to Amedi, Iranian leaders instead told Baghdad that the collection of weapons is an exclusively Iraqi decision.
Addressing the Peshmerga, Amedi said the force is a constitutionally recognized military institution operating within the Kurdistan Region. He said the Peshmerga is therefore not part of the disarmament process targeting irregular armed factions.
Amedi also condemned what he described as continuous drone and missile attacks against the Kurdistan Region, saying they have no justification. He said the previous presence of International Coalition forces in the Kurdistan Region was the primary reason the area was repeatedly targeted.
FYI
The ongoing disarmament process in Iraq represents a critical milestone in Prime Minister Ali Faleh al-Zaidi's efforts to restrict all weapons exclusively to state authority ahead of the strict September 30 deadline. Rather than resorting to military force, the federal government is actively pursuing dialogue and mutual understanding to peacefully integrate these remaining groups into the official state security apparatus.
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