Ali Zaidi Praises Peshmerga As Iraq Enters New Era After Coalition Withdrawal

ERBIL (Kurdistan24) - Iraqi Prime Minister and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces Ali Zaidi said Wednesday, that the conclusion of the International Coalition’s mission marks the beginning of a new era in which Iraq moves away from regional and international conflicts and becomes a country capable of independently making its national decisions and fully protecting its territory and sovereignty.

Speaking during a ceremony marking the conclusion of the International Coalition’s mission and the complete withdrawal of US forces from Iraq, Zaidi said the Iraqi people had paid a heavy price for conflicts in previous periods.

He said the number of armed groups in Iraq had increased significantly over the years, eventually turning the country from what should have been a peaceful homeland for its people into an arena for settling the conflicts of other parties.

“In previous phases, the number of armed groups in our country increased significantly, to the point that Iraq, instead of being a peaceful homeland for its people, became an arena for settling the conflicts of others,” Zaidi said.

The Iraqi prime minister paid tribute to those who had been killed or wounded while defending the country and praised the security forces that had contributed to Iraq’s security.

“Today, with the utmost respect, we remember the martyrs and wounded. We also extend our greetings and appreciation to the heroes of the army, police, Counter Terrorism Service, Popular Mobilization Forces, Peshmerga forces, and all our armed forces and security institutions who have worked to protect the country,” he said.

Without naming any specific group, Zaidi delivered a direct message to armed factions, saying their weapons and fighters should operate only within Iraq’s state institutions.

“The appropriate place for your weapons and fighters is only within the state and official institutions. Your capabilities and sacrifices must serve to strengthen Iraq within a unified national conviction, under one flag and one military and security decision,” Zaidi said.

He said the government does not discriminate among the various roles played by Iraq’s security and armed forces, but instead seeks to organize their capabilities according to law and the Constitution.

“This is a constitutional principle; weapons must be held only by the government, Iraqi territory must be free of foreign forces, and the national decision must represent all components,” he said.

Zaidi said loyalty to Iraq’s sovereignty means that all sides must work together to protect the country’s wealth and resources.

He said the government would continue confronting challenges and developing state resources while pledging to safeguard the country’s interests.

“We will continue confronting challenges and developing the state’s resources. We promise you that we will protect this trust and devote all our efforts to serving this country,” Zaidi said.

The remarks came as Iraq formally marked the conclusion of the International Coalition’s military mission, beginning a new phase in which the Iraqi government says national security responsibilities will rest fully with state institutions.