Iraq, US Plan Withdrawal of Coalition Forces in Strategy Talks

Iraq and the United States have initiated a new phase of discussions aimed at concluding the US-led international coalition’s mission in Iraq, according to official statements from the Iraqi government. These talks, reconvened by the Higher Military Commission (HMC), are focused on evaluating the current military landscape, the threat level from the Islamic State (IS) group, and the preparedness of Iraqi forces to take over security responsibilities.

Yahya Rasoul, an Iraqi military spokesman, announced that these deliberations are expected to outline a schedule for the systematic reduction of international coalition advisers in the country. This plan will eventually lead to the cessation of the coalition’s combat operations against IS, transitioning towards strengthening bilateral relations between Iraq and the coalition nations.

The dialogue sessions are set to occur periodically to expedite the commission’s objectives, provided there are no interruptions, Rasoul noted. This development follows an agreement announced on January 25 by the Iraqi Foreign Ministry, detailing Iraq’s collaboration with the United States to disband the international coalition’s presence and enhance multifaceted bilateral ties encompassing political, economic, cultural, security, and military aspects.