Commander's Office Director Affirms Iraqi Forces' Full Readiness for Border Protection After Coalition Mission Ends

Lieutenant General Abdul Amir Al-Shammari, Director of the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces' Office, affirmed on Wednesday the full readiness of Iraqi forces to protect the country's borders, land, and airspace. Al-Shammari indicated that the conclusion of the international coalition's mission signifies a complete transfer of security responsibility to Iraqi forces. In a statement, Al-Shammari mentioned that "September 30th marks a prominent historical milestone for Iraq. With the end of the international coalition's mission, we close a chapter of many years of war against terrorism and welcome the day of full sovereignty with the shift of security responsibility to our national forces, which now possess the necessary capability and experience to carry out their duties in protecting the nation and preserving its security and stability." He added that "Iraqi forces have made significant progress in building their capabilities and gaining experience over the past years, proving their efficiency on the ground in confronting challenges and achieving victory over terrorism." Al-Shammari emphasized the full readiness of various branches and formations of the Iraqi forces to deal with any threat to the country's security. Al-Shammari clarified that "the conclusion of the coalition's mission came based on an agreement with the Iraqi government and after a comprehensive assessment of the security situation and the capabilities of our forces." He noted that this "does not signify an end to cooperation with friendly nations but represents a transition to a new phase of bilateral relations, focusing on areas of training, exchange of expertise and information, and capacity building, in line with Iraq's requirements and national interests." In a related context, Al-Shammari commemorated the martyrs of the security forces who sacrificed their lives for Iraq, appreciating the support provided by the international coalition nations to Iraq during the years of war against the ISIS organization. The Director of the Commander-in-Chief's Office reassured the Iraqi people, affirming that "their Iraqi forces are fully prepared to assume their responsibilities completely, protect Iraq's borders, land, and airspace, and preserve the security of citizens and the achievements of the realized victory." Al-Shammari concluded his remarks by emphasizing that "reaching this day was achieved after years of sacrifices, continuous effort, and capacity building, and what has been accomplished places a greater responsibility on us to maintain and enhance it." He pointed out that "the day of full sovereignty is not merely the end of a phase but heralds the beginning of a pure and complete Iraqi responsibility for the country's security and future."