Iraq confirms complete withdrawal of U.S.-led coalition forces

Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi said on October 1 that the U.S.-led international coalition had fully and finally withdrawn its forces from Iraq, describing the move as the completion of a major phase and the restoration of full national sovereignty.

He also said October 1 marked the beginning of a new phase in bringing all weapons under state control. The government plans to implement a roadmap on the issue by no later than June 30, 2027.

Al-Zaidi said the authorities would work toward the complete disarmament of all non-Iraqi armed groups operating on Iraqi territory in order to strengthen security, stability and border control.

The international coalition was formed in 2014 to support Iraqi forces in fighting Islamic State after the group seized large areas of Iraq and Syria. With coalition backing, Iraqi forces ended the group's territorial control in Iraq in 2017, while operations against remaining militants continued afterward.

According to CCTV+, the end of the coalition mission moves Iraq into a new security phase in which bringing armed groups under state control and addressing remaining Islamic State threats will be among Baghdad's main challenges.