سحب القوات الأمريكية من العراق لايوقف التنسيق الأمني

The Speaker of the Iraqi Parliament, Mahmoud al-Mashhadani, discussed with the Chargé d'Affaires of the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, Ambassador Stephen Fagin, the reduction of U.S. forces at the "Ain al-Asad" base in Anbar province.

A statement from the Parliament today (Tuesday) indicated that the meeting addressed the mechanism for reducing the number of forces at Ain al-Asad base and transitioning to a limited bilateral framework within the Kurdistan region, in line with the requirements of the field reality, and in a way that enhances national sovereignty and reflects the achieved security stability in the country.

Al-Mashhadani emphasized that sustainable security stability cannot be achieved without economic prosperity, stressing the importance of American companies entering the Iraqi market to support the private sector and provide extensive job opportunities for the national workforce.

Both sides affirmed the strength of the relationship between Iraq and the United States and their commitment to developing it in a manner that serves mutual interests and enhances cooperation in political, economic, and security fields.

The statement noted that the meeting concluded with an emphasis on the fact that developing Iraq's relations with its neighbors is a fundamental pillar in enhancing regional stability and helps to entrench the principles of good neighborliness, serving the future of Iraq and the peoples of the region.

A U.S. Department of Defense official previously stated that Washington continues to review and adjust its forces in Iraq "as necessary" in accordance with the missions of the international coalition to defeat ISIS in Iraq.

The official added that Washington is committed to ending the military mission of the coalition within Iraq by September 2025, but will continue to support operations to defeat ISIS in Syria from bases inside Iraq until September 2026. He noted that after the transitional period ends, the United States will maintain a bilateral security cooperation relationship with Iraq.

It is worth mentioning that the first phases of the international coalition's withdrawal led by the United States began from Iraq, with the first American military convoy having already left the "Ain al-Asad" base heading towards Syria last Monday.

The schedule includes the withdrawal of international coalition forces from the "Ain al-Asad" base and Baghdad by the end of September 2025, with part of them being transferred to Erbil, the capital of the Kurdistan region, and Kuwait, while the number of forces will gradually decrease from about 2,000 to less than 500 soldiers in Erbil.