Al-Zubaidi: The withdrawal of US forces from Iraq is certain, and Washington is required to abide by its commitments.
Al-Zubaidi: The withdrawal of US forces from Iraq is certain, and Washington is required to abide by its commitments.
9-16-2026
Information/Special…
The official spokesperson for the Victory Coalition, Salam al-Zubaidi, confirmed on Wednesday that the agreement with the United States regarding the withdrawal of its forces from Iraq was reached during the previous government, following Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani’s visit to Washington. He stressed that the withdrawal dates are fixed and should not be altered.
Al-Zubaidi told Al-Maalouma, “The withdrawal of American forces from Iraq is fixed according to the agreements and understandings concluded with Washington, and the withdrawal date represents an important milestone on the path to achieving full Iraqi sovereignty.” He added, “The American side must adhere to its commitments and proceed with the withdrawal procedures according to the agreed-upon schedules.”
He further stated that “Washington raised some points linking the withdrawal procedures to the issue of restricting weapons to the state, and there were messages and indications regarding the possibility of linking the two issues.” He clarified that “it is in the interest of the United States to proceed with the withdrawal procedures and not keep its forces inside Iraq without an agreed-upon framework.”
Al-Zubaidi explained that “the United States has previously reneged on promises and commitments in a number of agreements, and has tried at various stages to find justifications and pretexts to maintain its presence in Iraq and the region.” He pointed out that “the current situation may be different given the existing governmental cooperation, while not ruling out the possibility that Washington might link the withdrawal to the Iraqi government’s measures regarding the state’s monopoly on the use of force.”
He indicated that the fact that a portion of Iraqi funds are tied to the US Federal Reserve could expose Baghdad to economic repercussions if sanctions or restrictions are imposed. This makes diplomacy the most viable option for managing this issue, leading to a clear agreement that guarantees the withdrawal of US forces. He emphasized that “complete sovereignty should not be limited to US forces, but should also include the Turkish military presence in northern Iraq.”
Al-Zubaidi stressed “the necessity for the government to take serious steps on internal issues, foremost among them combating corruption, strengthening state institutions, and monopolizing the use of force, in order to address internal issues and prevent the provision of any justifications or pretexts that the United States could use to delay its withdrawal or maintain its presence in Iraq.”
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