The Iraqi Ministry of Foreign Affairs clarified on Wednesday that the official conclusion of the international coalition's mission inside Iraqi territory does not entail severing cooperation ties with partners and friendly nations, while emphasizing the country's absolute commitment to continuing
its efforts to eradicate terrorism. A statement issued by the ministry on the occasion of this transition indicated that this milestone reflects Baghdad's shift toward a new phase in which it assumes full security and stability responsibilities, consolidating national sovereignty
and preserving the independence of security decision-making in alignment with the country's supreme interests, affirming the competence of constitutional and security institutions to shoulder their responsibilities. The ministry praised societal cohesion and solidarity among the nation's people and institutions, which
paved the way for overcoming a critical era and defeating ISIS, while reverently recalling the sacrifices of the nation's martyrs and the heroism of the armed forces across various branches alongside the Popular Mobilization Forces and Peshmerga forces, commending the
intelligence and security efforts in protecting citizens and preserving stability. It also expressed appreciation to the United States and coalition partners for their support, efforts, and sacrifices during the war against terrorism, noting that security cooperation will continue based on
mutual interests and respect for sovereignty through training, expertise exchange, and capacity-building. The ministry concluded by reaffirming Iraq's steadfast commitment to continuing the fight against terrorism and strengthening ties with international partners on the basis of reciprocity and mutual respect
to support regional and international security.
