Iraq Vows Full Sovereignty, Says Territory Must Not Be Used for Attacks on Others

Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi has thanked the Supreme Religious Authority in Najaf, Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani, and other religious institutions for emphasizing the importance of Iraq’s security, civil peace, social cohesion and the enforcement of law. He said these principles were essential to strengthening national unity and state authority.

Zaidi stressed that Iraqi territory should not be used as a launching pad for attacks against other countries, saying adherence to this principle would reinforce the government’s position as it works to protect national sovereignty. He said his government was committed to building a fully sovereign Iraq while pursuing reforms, combating corruption, strengthening the economy and developing security institutions operating in accordance with the constitution.

In 2024, Washington and Baghdad agreed to end the US-led military operations against the Takfiri Daesh terrorist group. US forces withdrew from most bases across Iraq in 2025, although American troops remained in Iraq’s semi-autonomous Kurdish region.