Iraq's National Security Adviser: Coalition Mission ends Today, Partnership Continues

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) - Iraq's National Security Adviser Qasim al-Araji declared on Wednesday that the end of the US-led international coalition's mission in Iraq does not mean the end of cooperation with partner nations, but rather a transition to deeper bilateral relations based on mutual respect and shared interests, as the United States formally concluded its military presence in Iraq on the same day.

"Today we reach an important milestone with the end of the international coalition's mission and the presence of its forces, as well as the transition to deeper bilateral relations with allied countries, and this consolidates sovereignty and serves the national interests and aspirations of the Iraqi people," al-Araji wrote on X on Wednesday.

Al-Araji acknowledged the sacrifices that made the victory over ISIS possible. "The victory over ISIS was achieved through the sacrifices of Iraqis and the bravery of the armed forces with their various types and components," he said. "At the same time, the support of the international coalition and Iraq's friendly and brotherly countries played a significant role in those victories and is highly valued."

The national security adviser reaffirmed that the end of the coalition mission means a transition, not a rupture. "The end of the coalition's mission does not mean the end of partnership, but rather a transition to stronger and deeper bilateral relations," he said. "These relations, based on mutual respect and shared interests, include the continuation of security and intelligence cooperation, the exchange of information and expertise, and the building of capabilities, in order to strengthen security and stability and support the people's aspirations for lasting peace, development, and prosperity."

The formal end of the international anti-ISIS coalition's military presence in Iraq on September 30, 2026, closes a twelve-year chapter that began in 2014 following the fall of Mosul to ISIS and the subsequent Iraqi request for international military assistance. The coalition at its peak involved forces from more than 60 countries and played a decisive role in the military defeat of ISIS's territorial caliphate. Lieutenant General Abdul Amir al-Shamari, director of the office of Iraq's Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, had confirmed on Sunday that September 30 would be the final date for all foreign combat forces and military bases in Iraq, with Victoria Base already fully vacated and Bashiqa base to be evacuated within 60 days under the Iraq-Türkiye UNGA agreement.

For the Kurdistan Region, the coalition's departure carries particular significance. Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani told the Financial Times on Sunday that leaving the Region without any defensive system as American forces withdraw is a cause for concern, given that the Kurdistan Region has absorbed more than 1,000 Iranian drone and missile attacks since the war began in February 2026. The State Department has confirmed the Kurdistan Region remains a foundational pillar of the broader US-Iraq relationship, and al-Araji's framing of the transition as a deepening of bilateral rather than multilateral engagement suggests the security relationship between Washington and Erbil will continue through different institutional channels even as the formal coalition framework concludes.