Commander in Chief Office Director: War and Peace Decisions Belong Exclusively to Iraq

The Director of the Office of the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Staff General Abdul Amir Al-Shammari, emphasized that decisions of war and peace remain an exclusive prerogative of the Iraqi government, reiterating the necessity of restricting all weapons to state authority. This statement came during Al-Shammari's meeting with an official delegation from the Kingdom of the Netherlands, headed by the National Coordinator for Security and Counterterrorism, Kuipers, alongside counterterrorism officials and Dutch diplomats accredited to Baghdad. The discussions were attended by the head of the Counter-Terrorism Service, an advisor to the Prime Minister, and several senior officers from the Commander-in-Chief’s office and counterterrorism units. The meeting focused on bilateral ties and enhancing joint cooperation in security and counterterrorism fields, alongside exchanging perspectives on shared interests and potential economic partnerships. The visiting Dutch delegation expressed strong confidence in the measures implemented by the Iraqi government, commending the tangible security stability across the country and the persistent efforts of Iraqi armed forces against terrorism, while reiterating the Netherlands' ongoing commitment to supporting Iraq’s stability. For his part, General Al-Shammari reviewed government efforts aimed at establishing lasting security and expanding foreign relations based on mutual respect and shared interests. He stressed that Iraq is moving forward with strengthening bilateral relations following the conclusion of the international coalition's mission, firmly asserting that Iraqi territory will not be used as a staging ground for attacks against other nations. Al-Shammari also praised the support provided by European nations to Iraq, especially highlighting the valuable Dutch contributions. He affirmed the continuation of national operations targeting the remnants of ISIS through coordinated efforts between the army, the Counter-Terrorism Service, and other security bodies to ensure the total eradication of defeated terrorist factions.