Explanatory Press Statement 

The Foreign Ministry would like to provide the following clarification regarding the inaccurate response of the US State Department Spokesperson to a journalist’s question during a press briefing: 

First: There are no US forces in Iraq except for military advisors under the umbrella of the Global Coalition, these advisors are included in the outcomes of the Higher Military Commission work, and both parties are committed to the followed mechanisms and their outcomes.

Second: The Higher Military Commission focused over the past months on assessing the threat of Dae’sh with the aim of reaching a deadline to end the military mission of Operation Inherent Resolve. On this basis, the presence of Global Coalition advisors of all nationalities on Iraqi soil will be ended, these discussions included details of hierarchy of advisors withdrawal from the sites, and all that remained is agreeing on the details, date of the announcement and some other logistical aspects . We were very close to announcing this agreement, but due to the latest developments, the announcement of ending the military mission of the Global Coalition in Iraq was postponed.

Third: The bilateral relations with the United States in all areas, including the security ties, is completely separated from the course of the relationship with the Global Coalition forces, this relationship existed before the coalition and will continue after it. Additionally, the Iraqi delegation discussed the future of the security relations in the areas of training, armament, equipment and security cooperation, in light of what is permitted by the Iraqi constitution and the framework of the strategic agreement between Iraq and the United States.

Media Office of the Foreign Ministry

August 8, 2024