Iraq PM forms committee to end US-led coalition’s presence amid escalating tensions over airstrikes News
© WikiMedia (Nima Najazadeh for the Tasnim News Agency)
Iraq PM forms committee to end US-led coalition’s presence amid escalating tensions over airstrikes

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani announced plans on Friday to form a committee tasked with preparing for the end of the US-led international coalition’s mission in the country. Al-Sudani announced the plans in a speech and his office confirmed the development in a summary post on X (formerly Twitter), stating, “We affirm our firm and principled position in ending the existence of the international coalition after the justifications for its existence have ended.”

The decision follows a recent rise in tensions between Iraq and the US-led coalition. Just a day prior to the committee’s formation, a US airstrike targeted Mushtaq Jawad Kazim al-Jawari, a militia leader in Baghdad, provoking outrage among Iran-backed groups that have persistently called for the withdrawal of the coalition.

Al-Sudani condemned the US for the strike, viewing it as a violation of Iraqi sovereignty. A US defense official said the drone strike on Thursday, which resulted in the death of the militia leader and three other members, was authorized due to his alleged involvement in recent attacks on US personnel. Iran-backed militias, led by Kataib Hezbollah, claimed credit for the attack.

Al-Sudani expressed concern that the US action circumvented the Iraqi government, emphasizing that it is the authorized body to impose the law. He went on to call for the withdrawal of US troops from the country and stressed the need for adherence to the established governance structures.

While the establishment of the committee represents a tangible step towards diminishing the coalition’s presence, critical details regarding the withdrawal timeline and specific measures remain elusive. The statement from Prime Minister Al-Sudani’s office did not provide a timeframe, and the committee’s composition and mandate are yet to be disclosed.

The US-led coalition, officially designated as the Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve (CJTF-OIR), has been actively operating in Iraq since 2014, playing a pivotal role in the fight against the Islamic State (ISIS) group. While the coalition’s current focus involves training and advising Iraqi security forces, its presence has faced mounting criticism from domestic actors who see its operations as infringing Iraqi sovereignty.

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