Iraq faces sovereignty test as US-led military coalition exit nears
Analysts warn Iraq faces severe security and political tests as the US-led coalition withdrawal deadline approaches.
The United States-led international military coalition will conclude its mission in Iraq by the end of this month, the country’s armed forces have confirmed to state media.
Lieutenant General Abdul Amir al-Shammari, director of the Office of the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, in a statement to the Iraqi News Agency on Monday, said September 30 is the date for the end of the mission of the international coalition forces in Iraq and the transition to a new chapter of relations and cooperation.
Earlier, Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi’s security adviser, Qasim al-Araji, had confirmed that the US-led international military coalition would conclude its mission in the country this month.
The question of how the government will manage the task of handling security alone amid such challenges remains a prominent one, particularly as key positions in the defence and interior ministries remain vacant.