Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Faleh al-Zaidi has pledged that the country will be free of any foreign military presence on its soil and that weapons will be solely under state control by October 1, according to Al Jazeera.
According to a statement by his office, Al-Zaidi “affirmed the commitment to the agreed-upon timelines” — under which the international coalition’s military mission in Iraq and the withdrawal of its forces will be completed by September 30 — during a meeting with US Central Command chief Admiral Brad Cooper.
October 1 will “mark a new day in the history of the Iraqi state”, as Iraq will be “free of any foreign military presence” and responsible for ensuring its own security and stability, the statement adds.
Al-Zaidi adds that the monopoly on force will be held only by state institutions, which will bolster “the state’s authority and sovereignty, and guarantee security and stability”.
