Iraqi leaders mark ‘Sovereignty Days’ as Coalition mission ends

Shafaq News- Baghdad (Updated at 13:09)

Iraqi officials and political leaders on Wednesday marked the country’s “Sovereignty Days,” commemorating the Sept. 30 conclusion of the US-led Coalition’s military mission and the transition toward bilateral security partnerships.

Formed in 2014 to fight ISIS, the Coalition concluded its role under an agreement reached by Baghdad and Washington in September 2024. Security ties between Iraq and the United States will now continue on a bilateral basis, including intelligence sharing, training, and arms cooperation.

Parliament Speaker

Haibet al-Halbousi, Speaker of the Iraqi Parliament, said that the end of the US-led Coalition's mission does not mean an end to cooperation with its member states, but a move to a new phase “based on coordination, mutual respect and shared interests that safeguards Iraq's sovereignty and independent decision-making.”

Iraq will not serve as an arena for settling conflicts or a corridor for attacks on other countries, al-Halbousi said, adding that interference in or violations of its territory, airspace or resources would not be accepted.

The speaker also tied Iraq's stability to the rule of law and state authority over armed groups, calling for "no weapons outside the law, no force outside state institutions, and no decision above the national decision."

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Ammar al-Hakim

Ammar al-Hakim, head of al-Hikma Movement, said the occasion reflects Iraq's recovery and serves as international recognition of the country's ability to manage its own security without outside help. "It also represents a starting point for a comprehensive solution to the problem of weapons outside the state."

Former PM Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani

Former Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani portrayed the Coalition’s departure as a milestone in Iraq’s recovery from the war against ISIS, crediting national forces and international partners with defeating the group.

He linked the end of the foreign military presence to efforts to bring all weapons under state control through dialogue and constitutional mechanisms while safeguarding the rights of Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) personnel. Al-Sudani also cited the recent unification of the Peshmerga and the planned handover of Turkiye’s Bashiqa base as further steps toward strengthening state authority.