Coalition withdrawal on track for Sept. 30, spokesperson says

BAGHDAD — The withdrawal of U.S.-led coalition forces and the handover of their sites to Iraqi forces are proceeding as planned and the mission’s presence will end completely on Sept. 30, the government spokesperson said.

“The government is waiting and looking forward to Sept. 30, which represents an important sovereign milestone for the Iraqi state and the Iraqi people,” Haider al-Aboudi told the Iraqi News Agency. He said coordination and monitoring showed the transfers were proceeding regularly.

On weapons, Aboudi said the policy rests on constitutional principles giving the armed forces exclusive control over the instruments of force and prohibiting armed groups outside the official security forces. On corruption, he said cooperation between the government, the judiciary, the Integrity Commission, the Board of Supreme Audit and parliament had “achieved basic indicators in combating corruption that were not achieved during many years of the Iraqi state after 2003.”

Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi has ruled out military action over weapons and said the government is working through political understandings. Security adviser Qasim al-Araji has said Sept. 30 marks the end of the coalition mission and the start of further talks rather than an automatic handover date, after the State Administration Coalition said armed activity outside state authority after that date could fall under the Anti-Terrorism Law.