Iraq says 30 September is deadline for US-led coalition withdrawal

Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi said on Wednesday (12/8) that 30 September remains the definitive deadline for ending the military mission of the US-led coalition in Iraq and completing the withdrawal of its forces.

He made the remarks to US Central Command Commander Brad Cooper, who was visiting Iraq.

During a meeting in Baghdad, both sides affirmed their full and final agreement to end the coalition’s military mission in line with the consensus reached during al-Zaidi’s visit to Washington in mid-July, according to a statement from al-Zaidi’s media office.

Al-Zaidi said 1 October would mark a new era for Iraq, as the country would be free from foreign military presence and exercise full national sovereignty over its territory, the statement said.

He also said that restricting weapons ownership solely to state authorities in accordance with the law remains an essential prerequisite for safeguarding Iraq’s sovereignty, stability and future development.

In 2014, ISIS seized vast areas of western and northern Iraq. The US-led coalition to fight the extremist group was subsequently formed and deployed its forces to Iraq.

Citing an Iraqi source, Al Jazeera reported on Wednesday that the commander of the Quds Force of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Esmail Qaani, made a surprise visit to Baghdad earlier in the week and held closed-door meetings with political and security leaders as well as commanders of Shia paramilitary groups to discuss the Iraqi government’s plans to disarm those armed groups.