Trump: We should have left Iraq a long time ago

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After the US-led international coalition to fight ISIS ended its mission in Iraq after 12 years, US President Donald Trump announced that "we should have left Iraq a long time ago."

Trump added in remarks to reporters at the White House: "We left Iraq with dignity."

In another context, he added that "the war with Iran will end soon," stressing that "everything is collapsing in Iran."

Trump had earlier praised the end of the coalition's mission in Iraq, and Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi, whom he considered “brilliant.”

"This day represents a victory for the United States, a victory for Iraq, and a decisive victory over ISIS," he said in a post on his Truth Social platform.

This came after Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi confirmed earlier on Wednesday the transfer of the joint operations tasks of the International Coalition to the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, stressing that the next phase It is based on the consolidation of the authority of the state and its security institutions, and that "there is no weapon outside the umbrella of the law and state institutions."

Al-Zaidi explained that the end of the mission of the International Coalition does not mean the end of the battle with terrorism, stressing the continuation of efforts to confront security threats and maintain stability.

He also pointed out in a statement that security cooperation with the International Coalition will continue in a form he described as “more effective,” focusing on new areas that serve Iraq's security capabilities. He also added that this cooperation It will include digital technology to support security, within the framework of the new phase of the security relationship with the international coalition after the end of its mission.

In turn, the Pentagon announced that the US Department of War will continue to provide targeted training and intelligence support to its partners in Iraq.

He also noted that “the Iraqi security forces are expected to lead the ongoing efforts to secure the state and curb the remnants of ISIS.” He also stressed that the orderly withdrawal of coalition forces and equipment from Erbil Air Base represents The conclusion of the military mission that defeated ISIS in Iraq.

US forces had returned to Iraq after withdrawing from it during the invasion, to help Iraqi forces defeat ISIS in a major war that lasted from 2014 to 2017.

Then, after the defeat of Daesh in 2017, demands began to escalate by some Iraqi parties for the withdrawal of those forces from the country, especially by armed factions loyal to Iran.

Al-Zaidi considered that this current withdrawal will help in the task of confining weapons to the hands of the state.