Iraqi Joint Operations Command: Coalition forces will withdraw completely next week
Iraqi Joint Operations Command: Coalition forces will withdraw completely next week
2025-12-31 02:34
Shafaq News – Baghdad
On Wednesday, the Deputy Commander of Joint Operations, Lieutenant General Qais al-Muhammadawi, revealed details of the security forces’ activities during 2025, noting the implementation of 37 security operations and 93 airstrikes targeting ISIS sites, while indicating that Ain al-Assad base will be handed over to Iraq after the withdrawal of coalition forces next week.
Al-Muhammadi said in a press conference attended by a correspondent from Shafaq News Agency that “the security forces, in coordination with the intelligence agency, were able to kill the so-called Abu Khadija, the ISIS governor, along with a large number of the organization’s leaders and members from the first and second ranks, in operations,” noting that “the organization received painful blows that limited its ability to reorganize.”
He added that “during the year, the security forces carried out 37 security operations and 93 airstrikes, resulting in the killing of more than 90 terrorists, relying on intelligence efforts and advanced aerial surveillance.”
Regarding the Al-Hol camp file, Al-Muhammadi explained that “the Al-Hol camp file has reached its final stages, as 15 meals were received from the camp’s families during the current year, bringing the total number of families received to about 2,954 families, while the total number of meals reached 32 meals.”
He explained that “the number of detainees received during the year amounted to 3,244 people, including 20 women, in addition to those involved in the Speicher massacre and other terrorist crimes.”
Regarding the Kurdistan Workers’ Party ( PKK ) file, Al-Muhammadi stressed the existence of continuous coordination with the Turkish side, and working according to a clear and future vision, noting that the Makhmur file has been fully completed, and disarmament operations have begun, with continued coordination with the Kurdistan Region.
He pointed out that Iraq witnessed for the first time a broad reliance on local Iraqi capabilities in aerial surveillance and reconnaissance,” indicating that “flight and surveillance hours increased by more than 9,000 hours, especially after the withdrawal of the international coalition.”
Al-Muhammadi continued, saying that the agreement to end the mission of the international coalition was completed three months ago, adding that there is currently no element of the coalition within the Joint Operations Command, and that the Ain al-Asad base is witnessing a complete withdrawal and handover to the Iraqi security forces, with this to be completed during the next week.
He stressed that the Iraqi government has moved towards signing memoranda of understanding and international agreements with the United States, Britain and France, instead of a direct military presence, explaining that securing the Iraqi desert has reached an advanced level.
Al-Muhammadi pointed out that there were more than 300 hunters from Qatar, Kuwait and other countries inside the desert during 2025, which reflects the stability of the security situation, stressing that the file of controlling the borders with Syria is one of the files that are a source of pride, as the security systems have been restructured, and the last months have recorded a decrease in violations to zero.
He explained that the security forces succeeded in securing the legislative elections without recording any security breach, with the arrest of more than 175 people, and with high coordination with the Electoral Commission, noting that the millions of visits and religious, national and sports events, including international conferences, took place without any incidents, in an indication of the improvement in the security situation.
Al-Muhammadi pointed out that in 2025 the security file in six governorates was transferred to the Ministry of Interior, including the Samarra center, which provided greater flexibility for the work of the army and limited military tasks.
In response to a question from a Shafaq News correspondent, Al-Muhammadi pointed out that there were important strategic achievements that had been made outside the borders, especially in the Syrian arena, adding that a qualitative intelligence operation was carried out with careful follow-up and high coordination with the Syrian administration and the international coalition, which resulted in the execution of a successful airdrop operation, during which a number of terrorists wanted by the Iraqi judiciary were arrested.
Al-Muhammadi concluded his remarks by saying that the 2026 plans include reducing the militarization of cities, ending checkpoints, completing the securing of borders, in addition to developing air defense systems and raising the level of training to reach the level of military divisions, indicating that the Iraqi fighter achieved first place in international competitions, as evidence of the development of efficiency and combat readiness.
shafaq.com
