Iraqi PM Al-Zaidi Announces Official End of US-led Coalition Mission
At a Glance
- Iraqi Prime Minister and Commander-in-Chief Ali Faleh Al-Zaidi officially declared the conclusion of the international coalition's combat mission against ISIS in Iraq.
- Marking "Sovereignty Day" on September 30, 2026, Al-Zaidi emphasized that Iraqi security forces now hold full responsibility for national defense.
- The Prime Minister expressed gratitude to coalition partners, trainers, and advisors for their years of support.
- Al-Zaidi reiterated that the transition does not signal an end to counter-terrorism efforts, but rather a shift toward bilateral security cooperation and advanced technological integration.
Prime Minister Ali Faleh Al-Zaidi presided over a high-level official ceremony in Baghdad to commemorate the completion of the international coalition's mandate, heralding a new phase of national sovereignty and state-led security administration.
Key Presidential Address Highlights and Strategic Transitions
- Full Security Responsibility: Al-Zaidi underscored that Iraqi forces have successfully taken full control of the field and security landscape, transitioning into a phase where all arms remain strictly under the authority of the state and constitution.
- Future Cooperation: While the formal mission has concluded, Al-Zaidi noted that security partnerships with friendly nations will remain open, evolving into more focused collaborations centered on digital technology and intelligence sharing.
- Domestic Governance: Reaffirming the state's monopoly on power, the Prime Minister stressed that no armed presence or weaponry will be tolerated outside the framework of the law and state institutions.
In a speech delivered on this occasion, the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces officially announced the conclusion of the international coalition's mission against ISIS, affirming that Iraq is reaping today the fruits of immense sacrifices and heroic efforts spanning years, until our various security forces successfully established control over the security and operational landscape across all of Iraq. Al-Zaidi pointed to the 30th of September 2026, a date evoking an indelible memory: the image of our people defending their land, cities, and towns that had been desecrated by terrorists.
The Commander-in-Chief's address highlighted several key points, starting with the official declaration that the coalition's mission has ended, proving that cooperation between friendly nations and peoples has yielded victory over one of the darkest chapters of extremism and brutality in history. He noted that the uprising of our people alongside our armed forces launched a phase in which our forces reorganized command structures, mobilized resources, unified efforts, and seized the initiative, with friendly nations extending a helping hand during this decisive confrontation while our forces successfully reorganized and rearmed. Throughout the years of the war on terror, the Joint Operations Command served as the core of coordination and the strategic mind for intelligence, planning, and leadership in a great national battle. Gratitude was expressed to all friendly nations, leaders, officers, trainers, and advisors of the coalition who worked side by side with our security forces.
The speech says that concluding the coalition mission does not mean the end of our battle against terrorism, but rather Iraq's transition into a phase of assuming full responsibility for its security and stability, embodied by the transfer of joint operations duties to the Office of the Commander-in-Chief to manage efforts under state authority. A new era has begun, defined by Iraq's sovereignty, institutional strength, troop readiness, unified decision-making, and balanced partnerships. While security cooperation with coalition friends will remain open, more focused, and enhanced through digital technology, the ultimate victory brings the shared responsibility to protect it. Ultimately, no weapons shall exist outside the umbrella of the law and no force outside state institutions, in accordance with the constitution, the calls of our esteemed religious authority, and the will of our people.
FYI
"Sovereignty Day" marks the culmination of security transition agreements between Baghdad and international coalition partners, shifting foreign military advisory frameworks into normalized bilateral state relations.
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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