The Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces and Prime Minister, Ali Faleh Al-Zaidi, affirmed that security and military decisions have now become fully national and exclusively managed by official state institutions. This statement came during his chairing of an extraordinary meeting
of the National Security Council, where military and security tasks were discussed in the aftermath of the withdrawal of the international coalition combating ISIS from Iraq, marking the completion of national sovereignty. The meeting addressed arrangements and plans aimed at enhancing
the capacity of military institutions to consolidate security and stability, as well as uphold the rule of law and the state. Al-Zaidi emphasized the necessity of constant vigilance and readiness, improving coordination and cooperation among all military and security forces,
updating plans, procedures, and databases, and relying on modern technological means to maintain security across all regions of the country. He also stressed the importance of strengthening intelligence efforts and supporting proactive security work, alongside pursuing sources of extremist rhetoric and
sectarian incitement that threaten national unity and social peace. Additionally, he highlighted the critical role of the Military Industrialization Authority at this stage by establishing productive partnerships with global companies specializing in weapons and military equipment manufacturing. The government is
committed to fostering regional and international cooperation based on mutual interests, steering clear of axis-driven policies.
