Iraqi prime minister sets September 30 deadline for coalition troop withdrawal

Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Al-Zaidi has affirmed that his country will not allow its territory to be used to threaten the security of neighboring states, stressing the importance of protecting Iraq’s security and sovereignty and advocating dialogue in addressing regional and international issues.

Al-Zaidi added that September 30 will mark the final deadline for the completion of the withdrawal of international coalition forces from Iraq. This move is part of arrangements aimed at ending the coalition’s military mission and transitioning to a new phase in security and military relations with international partners.

According to Al Arabiya, the prime minister emphasized Iraq’s commitment to balanced relations with neighboring countries, reaffirming the government’s adherence to state sovereignty and its determination to prevent Iraqi territory from being used as a platform to target other nations.

Al-Zaidi met yesterday with General Intelligence Presidency chief Khalid bin Ali Al-Humaidan and his accompanying delegation, reiterating the Baghdad government’s keenness to strengthen cooperation with Saudi Arabia in ways that serve the mutual interests of both countries and peoples and contribute to regional security and stability.

The meeting discussed ways to enhance security cooperation between Saudi Arabia and Iraq, with both sides stressing the importance of continued communication between relevant authorities and the exchange of information to address security challenges within legal frameworks.

It is noteworthy that the Iraqi government has previously emphasized that the next phase aims to consolidate the authority of state institutions over security and military decisions, maintain balanced relations with neighboring countries and international partners, and prevent Iraqi territory from becoming a battleground for regional conflicts or being used to threaten the security of any country.