ALWAGHT- Iraqi Prime Minister al-Sudani insists resistance disarmament depends on US troop withdrawal, reaffirming a 2026 coalition exit amid mounting pressure from Washington.
Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani reiterated that foreign forces fighting ISIS are scheduled to fully withdraw from Iraq by September 2026, citing the reduced threat from terrorist groups. He emphasized that a clear program will follow to disarm factions outside state institutions, allowing them to integrate into official security forces or participate in politics.
Sudani’s remarks come amid US pressure for Iraq to disband resistance groups linked to the Popular Mobilization Forces, which are formally part of Iraq’s security apparatus. Iraqi Defense Minister Thabit al-Abbasi confirmed that the United States issued a “final” warning regarding the activities of these armed factions, including threats if they respond to future US operations near Iraq.
The US has appointed Mark Savaya, a political supporter of Trump with no government experience, as a special envoy to Iraq to push for reducing resistance group influence and limiting “external interference.” Iran condemned these US threats as a violation of Iraq’s sovereignty and an attempt to influence domestic affairs ahead of elections, asserting that they would not affect Iraqis’ determination to make independent decisions.
Washington and Baghdad have agreed on a phased US troop withdrawal, beginning in 2025 and set to conclude by the end of 2026. Sudani stressed that Iraq will maintain security and stability under state institutions’ authority and that no external or internal party can drag the country into conflict.
