Al-Sadr Welcomes the Withdrawal of American Forces from Iraq

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Iraqi Shiite National Movement leader Muqtada al-Sadr welcomed on Sunday the imminent withdrawal of American and international coalition forces from the country, considering that the date of September 30 represents an important milestone for enhancing Iraq's sovereignty and strengthening its security institutions under the leadership of the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces.

Al-Sadr stated that he looks forward to the withdrawal date "with joy and happiness," calling on the American side to respond to the Iraqi decision and complete the departure according to the specified schedule.

He added that implementing the decision serves, in his view, the interests of Iraq, the United States, and the world, emphasizing the capability of Iraqi forces to take on the responsibility of protecting the country after the end of foreign military presence.

Al-Sadr's statements align with the timeline announced by the Iraqi government. Prime Minister Ali Falah al-Zaydi confirmed that September 30 is a "fixed and final" date for ending the military mission of the international coalition and completing the departure of its forces, with October 1 marking the beginning of a new phase free of any foreign military presence. An American official also confirmed that Washington expects to complete the withdrawal by the same date.

Alongside his welcome of the withdrawal, al-Sadr warned against the next phase turning into an entry point for new regional or international interventions in Iraqi affairs.

He said: "We hope that this withdrawal will not be the beginning of external interventions in Iraqi affairs," considering that such interventions would undermine Iraq's sovereignty, independence, and dignity.

Al-Sadr issued a warning to neighboring countries against interfering in Iraq's internal affairs, asserting his rejection of any intervention regardless of the party behind it.

He also called on Iraqi political forces not to demand the return of American forces in the future, stating that Iraq is capable of protecting itself through its various security forces, especially border forces and the air force, and exclusively under the leadership of the central government.

He emphasized the importance of avoiding internal conflicts, whether sectarian or ethnic, considering that Iraqis are capable of standing united against any external intervention.

Al-Sadr linked the post-withdrawal phase to strengthening security institutions under the central command of the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, expressing hope that September 30 will mark the beginning of a new phase for Iraq.

This comes as Baghdad prioritizes the issue of weapon control in the hands of the state in the arrangements following the coalition's withdrawal. The spokesperson for the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Sabah al-Naaman, stated that September 30 is final for ending the coalition's mission, and that the withdrawal process is accelerating daily, alongside plans to enhance the capabilities of Iraqi forces to manage the security file.

However, the issue of armed factions' weapons remains one of the most prominent challenges in the upcoming phase. The Associated Press reported that several powerful armed factions still refuse to relinquish their weapons or impose conditions for doing so, while the government seeks to bring armed formations under the central state's command.

Baghdad and Washington have confirmed that the end of the coalition's military mission does not mean cutting ties between the two countries, but rather transitioning to bilateral cooperation in security, economic, and developmental fields, based on mutual respect for sovereignty and shared interests.

In a related development regarding weapons outside state control, sources from "Al-Arabiya" reported that the weapons control committee in Iraq received a document from the factions containing a set of demands related to the weapon handover process, indicating that negotiations regarding the mechanisms and conditions governing this file are ongoing.

The sources added that the Iraqi government has also presented several points to the factions regarding weapon control, as part of efforts to reach a formula that organizes the process and places weapons under state authority. The sources have not yet disclosed details of the demands included in the factions' document or the points raised by the government.

This comes as sources from "Al-Arabiya" indicated that Iran is pressuring Iraqi factions not to hand over their weapons.

These negotiations gain additional importance as the September 30 deadline approaches for ending the international coalition's mission, amid official Iraqi assurances to enhance the capabilities of security institutions and centralize the management of the security file in the hands of the central government in the post-withdrawal phase.