Iraq sets September 30 for full sovereignty and coalition withdrawal

Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Faleh al-Zaidi has announced that September 30 will serve as the official date for the declaration of full sovereignty over all Iraqi territory. This milestone coincides with the deadline for the withdrawal of the International Coalition forces from the country.

Al-Zaidi emphasized that Iraq will not serve as a station for harming other nations or neighboring countries, maintaining a policy of balanced foreign relations to avoid regional or international power blocs. The government's program focuses on reform, anti-corruption measures, and strengthening security institutions under the constitution.

A key component of this sovereignty drive is the effort to restrict all weapons to state control. Al-Zaidi revealed ongoing negotiations with five armed factions—Harakat al-Nujaba, Kata'ib Sayyid al-Shuhada, Kata'ib Hezbollah Iraq, Saraya Awliya al-Dam, and Ashab al-Kahf—to surrender their arms. This follows the successful integration of other major groups, including Saraya al-Salam, Asa'ib Ahl al-Haq, and Kata'ib al-Imam Ali, into civil and political life.