At a Glance

• The final deadline for the withdrawal of Coalition forces took effect today, concluding their military mission in Iraq.
• The federal government hosts military base closures and transferred control of national security under the banner of "Sovereignty Day." 
• The primary Coalition headquarters at the Baghdad Diplomatic Support Center has been officially decommissioned.
• An official ceremony led by Iraqi Prime Minister and senior military commanders marked the full security handover.

The final deadline for the withdrawal of International Coalition forces from Iraq took effect today, marked by a series of federal government ceremonies decommissioning military bases and transferring full security command to the national army on what has been designated "Sovereignty Day”.

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Key Statements and Focus Area

• Iraqi military spokesperson Sabah al-Numan told Channel8 that an official ceremony will be held at the Commander-in-Chief’s office in the presence of Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Faleh al-Zaidi.
• Following the ceremonies, the “Sovereignty Conference” is scheduled to be held in Baghdad in the presence of senior commanders.

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Speaking to Channel8, al-Numan, spokesman for the Commander-in-Chief of the Iraqi Armed Forces, reaffirmed that today is the final deadline for the withdrawal of the Coalition forces.

He noted that the main headquarters of the Coalition forces at the Baghdad Diplomatic Support Center (BDSC) will be closed.

Al-Numan said that the official declaration of “Sovereignty Day” marks "the beginning of full control” over Iraqi territory by domestic forces.

Meanwhile, the “Sovereignty Conference” will be dedicated to announcing the full takeover of the security file in all regions of Iraq by local military and security forces.

In the meantime, a four-day official holiday continues across all government institutions to mark the implementation of this deadline.

FYI

Following the removal of Saddam Hussein's government in 2003, U.S. and International Coalition forces established a military presence in Iraq. Under the terms of the 2008 U.S.–Iraq Status of Forces Agreement, all combat units initially withdrew from Iraqi urban centers and military bases by December 2011, transferring security responsibilities to the federal government in Baghdad.

In 2014, following a major offensive by the Islamic State (ISIS) that seized approximately one-third of Iraqi territory, the Iraqi government formally requested international military assistance.

This led to the formation of the U.S.-led Global Coalition against ISIS (Operation Inherent Resolve).

Following the territorial defeat of ISIS in Iraq in 2017, the coalition officially concluded its combat mission on December 31, 2021, transitioning remaining personnel into an advisory, training, and logistical support framework.

To permanently conclude this mission, the U.S.–Iraq Higher Military Committee announced a structured, two-phase drawdown plan in September 2024 to systematically wind down the coalition's presence.

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