Foreign Troop Withdrawal, Armed Groups Disarmament Critical to Iraq's Stability, MP Says

Reports 03:51 PM - 2026-08-08

A troop member of the International Coalition shakes hands with an Iraqi soldier during a military training.

Iraq is entering a decisive phase in its security transition as the withdrawal of U.S.-led Global Coalition forces approaches, with political leaders warning that the success of the process depends on armed groups surrendering their weapons and placing all arms under state control.

Under the agreement between Iraq, the United States and its coalition partners, all foreign troops are scheduled to withdraw from the country by 30 September 2026. Iraqi officials say the move must be accompanied by the disarmament of armed factions to ensure the country's long-term security and stability.

Withdrawal Underway

The Iraqi Ministry of Defence announced on 18 January 2026 that the last group of U.S. military advisers had departed Ain al-Asad Air Base in Anbar province, ending a military presence at the base that had lasted for more than two decades.

The withdrawal follows a phased reduction in U.S. forces that began in 2023 at the request of the Iraqi government.

Officials say the final stage of the withdrawal is linked to the implementation of measures aimed at ensuring that all weapons remain exclusively under state authority, a priority for Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi's government.

'Weapons Must Be in the Hands of the State'

Mazen Gharib, a member of the Iraqi Parliament from the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) bloc and a member of the Parliamentary Defence and Security Committee, told PUKMEDIA that all political forces had agreed on the importance of restricting weapons to state institutions.

"The issue of ensuring that weapons remain exclusively in the hands of the state is extremely important," Gharib said.

"All political parties and the State Administration Coalition have agreed that, by 30 September, there should be no weapons outside the authority of the Iraqi government. The commitments related to this agreement must be fully implemented," he added.

Security Concerns

The continued presence of both foreign troops and armed groups has repeatedly exposed Iraq to regional conflict.

Iran has previously launched missile attacks on Ain al-Asad Air Base, most notably following the U.S. drone strike near Baghdad Airport in January 2020 that killed Iranian General Qassem Soleimani.

At the same time, armed factions operating under the so-called "Islamic Resistance" have carried out attacks on U.S. forces, targeted locations in the Kurdistan Region and launched drones towards Israel, increasing concerns that Iraq could become further entangled in regional confrontations.

There are growing fears that some armed groups may refuse to disarm even after coalition forces complete their withdrawal.

'Iraq Could Enter a Very Complicated Phase'

Gharib warned that failure to implement the agreement in full could have serious consequences.

"If foreign forces withdraw but armed groups fail to surrender their weapons as agreed, Iraq will enter a very complicated phase," he said.

"Failure to implement the agreement could create serious domestic and international challenges for Iraq," he added.

Loss of Coalition Support

The PUK lawmaker acknowledged that Iraq's security forces would lose important military support following the coalition's departure.

"The coalition currently provides extensive logistical assistance, military training and institutional development, in addition to air support," Gharib said.

"Most operations targeting terrorist groups are carried out with coalition air support. Once foreign forces withdraw, Iraq will no longer benefit from these capabilities," he added.

Evolution of the U.S. Military Presence

The U.S. military presence in Iraq has changed significantly since 2003. 

American troop numbers peaked at around 170,000 before falling sharply after former President Barack Obama ordered a withdrawal in 2011.

In 2014, approximately 5,000 U.S. troops returned at the request of the Iraqi government to support operations against the Islamic State (IS).

In December 2021, the United States formally ended its combat mission in Iraq, leaving around 2,500 personnel in advisory and training roles. Those numbers have since been reduced in stages ahead of the planned full withdrawal.

Armed Groups Could Face Terrorism Charges

Gharib said the Iraqi government had decided that any armed group continuing military activities after the agreed deadline would face legal consequences.

"After 30 September, any military activity carried out by armed groups outside the authority of the state will be dealt with under Iraq's anti-terrorism law," he said.

He added that any government measures requiring legal approval must be referred to Parliament and reviewed through the appropriate parliamentary committees before implementation.

A Crucial Test for Iraq

The withdrawal of coalition forces and the planned disarmament of armed groups come as tensions between the United States and Iran remain unresolved.

Iraq has sought to maintain neutrality amid regional rivalries, but analysts warn that the continued presence of armed factions outside state control risks drawing the country into future conflicts.

Political leaders say the coming months will be critical in determining whether Iraq can complete the transition peacefully or face renewed security and political instability.



PUKMEDIA