Iraqi Communist Party on foreign forces leaving Iraq

The day after tomorrow, September 30, 2026, is the date set for the end of the presence of the international coalition forces on our country's territory.

Without a doubt, this constitutes a required national entitlement, especially after the end of the mission under which those forces were called upon to support the mission of liberating the country’s cities from the filth of the terrorist organization ISIS, through a national Iraqi effort, first and foremost, in which the military and security forces, the Peshmerga, and volunteers participated, with international support.

We in the Iraqi Communist Party had clearly distinguished between requesting support and assistance in situations imposed by the confrontation with terrorist organizations at that time, and our position rejecting the foreign military presence and the building of bases in our country, which is what we have consistently demanded in terms of providing the conditions and requirements for achieving it and possessing the will to achieve it.

In this context, while we welcome the steps announced so far, we call for and stress the need to end all foreign military presence on our land. This is one aspect of our comprehensive position, which includes rejecting any external interference in our country’s affairs from any party or entity, and that everyone should respect Iraq’s rights, interests, sovereignty, and independent national decision.

We believe that success on this path necessitates strengthening national unity, achieving Iraqi national consensus, consolidating civil peace, combating divisive and hateful rhetoric and incitement of sectarianism, bridging the gap between citizens and state institutions, particularly the military and security forces, upholding the value of citizenship, ensuring equal opportunities, guaranteeing and protecting freedoms without restriction, and providing suitable conditions for a better life for all citizens. Taking these steps will reassure citizens and strengthen the foundations of security and peace in the country.

On the other hand, attention must be paid to reforming and developing the military and security system, raising its efficiency and ability to perform its constitutional duties, and rebuilding it on the foundations of a national doctrine based on loyalty to the homeland and not to any other entity or title.

The reform process requires ridding it of corrupt, bribe-taking, and "ghost employees," distancing it from quotas of all kinds, and from loyalties to this or that political entity, and assigning responsibilities within it to national, professional, sincere, and truly capable elements.

All national and democratic forces are also called upon to close ranks and always seek common ground to strengthen the national democratic project and promote the spirit of citizenship in order to defend true national sovereignty.

It has become urgently required to end any military or security action outside the framework of the constitutional and official state system, and to clearly end the debate regarding the restriction of weapons to the institutions of the constitutional state and the actual transition to implementing it, and to end the existence of armed formations, regardless of their name.

It has become imperative for the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces to assume full responsibility for controlling and directing the military and security institutions, ensuring the unity and centralization of decision-making, and ending pluralism within it, in accordance with the powers specified in the Constitution.

The circumstances our country is going through and the tensions, conflicts and wars that the region is witnessing necessitate achieving all of that, as well as working hard to confine the decision of war and peace to the hands of the state, ending any armed military presence outside the constitutional frameworks, putting an end to violations of the law and the constitution, stopping the militarization of society and withdrawing all weapons, and setting strict standards for their possession, as well as firmly confronting organized crime groups, armed robbery gangs, drug dealers and tribal “Dakat” (a term referring to a specific type of tribal or military group).

September 30th is an important milestone in the course of modern Iraq, and the endeavor to have the state take control of military and security decisions, which constitutes a major step towards achieving the country’s sovereignty in its various aspects, and monopolizing violence and force.

The hope remains that this day will be part of further steps towards building a state free from corruption, a state of law, institutions, justice, and national unity, and the establishment of a fully sovereign, democratic, civil state.