Russia on Friday welcomed the withdrawal of the remaining US military forces from Iraq, ending more than 20 years of American military involvement in the country.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said the withdrawal followed a decision approved by the Iraqi parliament in January 2020. She said the decision reflected Iraqis’ desire to restore and strengthen national sovereignty following the long-term presence of foreign troops.
Zakharova criticized the 2003 US invasion, saying it had contributed to years of instability in Iraq and the wider region. Moscow, she said, viewed the completion of the US withdrawal positively.
She added that the departure demonstrated that Iraq’s armed forces and security institutions were capable of strengthening the country’s defense and protecting national security independently. She also said Iraqi forces could address threats from ISIS and other terrorist organizations.
Zakharova expressed confidence that Iraq would be able to manage internal and external challenges through stronger relations and cooperation with neighboring states. She also reiterated Russia’s proposal for a “Collective Security Concept for the Gulf Region,” which emphasizes a leading role for regional countries, including Iraq, in maintaining stability.
The US Defense Department announced Wednesday that Washington and its coalition partners had formally completed Operation Inherent Resolve in Iraq. The departure of coalition troops and equipment from Erbil Air Base marked the end of the military mission.
The US and Iraq agreed in September 2024 on a timetable to conclude the coalition’s military mission by the end of September 2026 and move toward bilateral security cooperation.
The US-led coalition was established in 2014 after ISIS captured large areas of Iraq and Syria. It supported Iraqi forces with air operations, intelligence and training during the campaign against the group. Iraq declared in December 2017 that it had regained control of all territory previously captured by ISIS.
US troops initially entered Iraq in 2003 to remove Saddam Hussein before withdrawing from the country in late 2011.
NEWS DESK
PRESS UPDATE