Iraq says Sept. 30 coalition withdrawal will mark ‘historic transformation

Iraq said Saturday that the Sept. 30 withdrawal of international coalition forces will represent a “strategic milestone and historic transformation” for the country, Anadolu reports.

Sabah al-Numan, spokesman for the commander-in-chief of the Iraqi Armed Forces, said the date would mark “the culmination of a long period of sacrifices and a major shift in Iraq’s sovereignty and stability,” according to the Iraqi News Agency (INA). “The selection of this date for the withdrawal of coalition forces and the end of their mission was not an arbitrary decision,” al-Numan said.

He said the decision was based on the readiness of Iraq’s armed forces and security agencies, which he said had demonstrated their ability to control territory, counter threats and manage the country’s […]