Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani said he plans to accelerate the end of the United States led international coalition formed to fight the extremist Daesh group. The mission in Iraq had originally been scheduled to conclude in September 2026, with a gradual drawdown already underway.

His announcement comes as Iraq faces rising regional tensions following Israeli and United States strikes on Iran. Pro-Iran armed factions have carried out near-daily attacks against United States interests in Iraq and elsewhere, while also facing retaliatory strikes.

Al-Sudani said that ending the presence of foreign troops would make it easier for the government to disband armed factions and consolidate control over weapons. The coalition, created in 2014 at Baghdad’s request, currently maintains advisers in northern Iraqi Kurdistan and has already completed an initial phase of its withdrawal. The alliance is also withdrawing from neighboring Syria after transferring its bases to Syrian government forces.