Head of the Parliamentary Reconstruction and Development Bloc, Baha al-Araji, said on Sunday that U.S. forces will not fully leave Iraq when the international coalition’s mission ends, noting that some personnel will remain to protect the U.S. Embassy, diplomatic missions, and American interests.
Al-Araji said Baghdad and Washington had set September 30, 2026, as the deadline for ending the international coalition’s military presence in Iraq. He stressed that the deadline does not mean the departure of all U.S. personnel, as coalition forces and those assigned to protect diplomatic facilities have different roles.
On the issue of weapons, al-Araji said regulating arms and placing them under state control is an Iraqi decision, but stressed that implementing it will require a gradual process and dialogue with armed factions rather than an immediate move.
The comments come as Iraq approaches the end of the coalition’s military mission, amid ongoing discussions over the future of foreign military presence and efforts to place weapons exclusively under the authority of state institutions.
