Iraq takes full responsibility for security after the international coalition’s departure, thanks the U.S.

Iraq’s Foreign Ministry has declared that the country has entered a new phase in which it takes full responsibility for its own security and stability, following the official closure of the mission of the international coalition led by the United States, Al Jazeera reports.

In its statement, the ministry expressed its “deep gratitude and appreciation” to the United States of America as the leader of the international coalition, as well as to the participating friendly countries, for the support given in the campaign against the ISIS group, which began more than a decade ago. According to official Baghdad, the end of the mission does not mean the end of cooperation with friendly countries.

“International efforts to fight extremism will remain an ongoing process, based on common interests and mutual respect for national sovereignty”, the statement says, mentioning training, the exchange of expertise and information, and capacity building as forms of future cooperation. The ministry reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening relations with international partners on the basis of mutual respect and common interests.

The statement comes after the international coalition’s mission in Iraq was officially closed, ending more than two decades of foreign military presence in the country. The coalition’s departure is one of the main regional consequences of the prolonged U.S.–Iran war, which has reshaped the security map of the Middle East.