The Iraqi Prime Minister, Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, has recently announced plans to establish a committee charged with preparing for the termination of the US-led international coalition’s mission within Iraq. The plans were announced during a speech and subsequently confirmed via an official statement on social media.
The formation of this committee comes on the heels of escalating tensions between Iraq and the US-led coalition. Just one day prior to announcing the creation of the committee, a US airstrike targeted an influential militia leader in Baghdad named Mushtaq Jawad Kazim al-Jawari. The strike, which resulted in al-Jawari and three others’ deaths, induced significant outrage among groups backed by Iran, who have long advocated for a withdrawal of the coalition forces.
Prime Minister al-Sudani condemned the US-led airstrike, calling it an infringement of Iraq’s sovereignty. The USA justified the strike by claiming that al-Jawari was responsible for authorizing recent attacks on American personnel. Furthermore, Iran-backed militias, under the leadership of Kataib Hezbollah, took responsibility for the attack. Al-Sudani highlighted the US’s circumvention of the Iraqi government during these actions, stating the government is the approved entity to enforce law and order within the country. He called for the withdrawal of American forces and stressed on the need to respect established governance structures.
Despite the announcement of the committee, significant details such as the timeline of withdrawal and specific plans of action remain unclear. The statement issued from the Prime Minister’s office did not furnish a timeframe, and the composition and mandate of the committee are yet to be disclosed.
The US-led coalition, officially known as the Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve (CJTF-OIR), has been active in Iraq since 2014. It played a significant role in the fight against the Islamic State (ISIS) group, and currently, its focus remains on training and advising Iraqi security forces. The coalition’s continued presence, however, has faced increasing criticism from domestic actors decrying what they perceive as infringement on Iraq’s sovereignty.