Iraq Prepares to Complete US Withdrawal with a Holiday and a Sovereignty Day
The Cabinet has designated sovereignty days, while Al-Shamari confirmed the withdrawal of US forces on September 30. Barzani criticized the timing and warned against repeating Obama's mistake and the rise of ISIS.
Translated by Qiyas from الجريدة — Original source
As global attention turns to the U.S. withdrawal from Iraq after 23 years, the Cabinet, chaired by Ali al-Idabi, has decided to suspend official government work from Wednesday until next Saturday, stating that the reason for the decision is “to celebrate the Sovereignty Days of the Republic of Iraq.”
A few days earlier, al-Idabi directed all ministries, non-ministerial entities, and governorates to take the necessary formal measures, in coordination with the government media cell, regarding the celebration of Iraqi Sovereignty Day.
The directive from the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces included holding a vigil in government and public institutions to remember martyrs and victims of Iraq, as part of the Sovereignty Day celebrations, alongside wearing a chest badge representing National Sovereignty Day, such as a map of Iraq, a map of Iraq colored with the Iraqi flag, or any other design.
He also directed all governorates to promote the official and popular local celebration of Sovereignty Day through all local government departments and institutions, as well as to instruct relevant entities to take appropriate measures regarding the matter through popular programs and activities.
Reaffirming the completion of the withdrawal according to the schedule agreed upon between Baghdad and Washington, Abd al-Amir al-Shamri, director of the Commander-in-Chief’s office, told Al-Hadath TV channel today that “U.S. forces will withdraw completely on September 30,” clarifying that the Victoria base is now free of U.S. presence and will be converted into a reception center for diplomatic missions.
Al-Shamri also stressed that there will be no combat forces or foreign military bases in Iraq after September 30, stating that “Turkey will evacuate the Bashiq base within 60 days.”
U.S. forces have already handed over the diplomatic and logistical center at Baghdad International Airport and have begun a gradual withdrawal from northern bases and the Kurdistan Region, such as the Al-Harir base and Erbil Airport, after previously vacating the Ain al-Asad base in Anbar.
In comments published by the Financial Times, Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Prime Minister Masrour Barzani criticized the timing of the U.S. withdrawal, calling it “wrong” given the turbulent situation, and warning that it would leave the Iraqi region in a more vulnerable position with no protection.
Barzani warned that U.S. President Donald Trump risks repeating the mistake of the administration of former President Barack Obama, which withdrew in 2011 and left a security vacuum that contributed to the rise of ISIS, forcing a return in 2014 to lead the anti-ISIS coalition.
Barzani criticized the Financial Times for not accurately conveying his statements and reiterated that the withdrawal of U.S. and international coalition forces from Iraq comes at a highly sensitive time, noting that the Kurdistan Region has been subjected to more than a thousand missile attacks and drone strikes. He said that leaving Kurdistan exposed without providing any defensive systems is a cause for concern, and that the continued state of security instability in Iraq poses a clear threat to the foundations of the federal system.
