"In Celebration of Sovereignty".. The Iraqi Government Suspends Official Work for 4 Days

- The Iraqi Cabinet announced on Saturday that it has decided to suspend official working hours starting from Wednesday until next Saturday, according to a statement published by the Iraqi News Agency "INA". The media office of the Iraqi Prime Minister stated in a statement on Sunday that "the Cabinet has decided to suspend official working hours in state institutions starting from Wednesday, September 30, until Saturday, October 3, in celebration of (Sovereignty Days) for the Republic of Iraq.",

This decision comes in conjunction with what both the Iraqi and American sides announced earlier, that September 30 has been set as the date for the end of the mission of American and international coalition forces and their departure from the country. Recently, Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Faleh Al-Zaydi and U.S. Central Command Commander Charles Brown Cooper confirmed "the complete and final agreement to end the military mission of the international coalition" in the country.

Al-Zaydi confirmed "commitment to the agreed timelines, which stipulate that September 30 is a fixed and final date for ending the military mission of the international coalition in Iraq and completing the departure of its forces." While Iraq considers the mission of the international coalition to have ended on its territory, officials pointed out that coalition operations continue against ISIS and other terrorist groups in Syria.

The American withdrawal may strengthen the government's position in negotiations regarding the disarmament of non-governmental armed groups, as some Iran-backed militias have cited the American presence to justify retaining their weapons. American forces have begun to gradually reduce their presence over several years, based on the request of the Iraqi government in 2023.