Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova officially welcomed the complete withdrawal of United States forces and international coalition troops from Iraq, characterizing the military departure as a essential step toward restoring Iraqi state sovereignty.
In a formal ministry statement, Zakharova noted that the conclusion of foreign military deployment fulfills a resolution adopted by the Iraqi parliament in January 2020, reflecting the long-standing aspirations of the Iraqi public to consolidate self-determination after decades of external intervention. The spokeswoman sharply criticized the historical foundations of the Western military presence, arguing that the initial 2003 American invasion was executed under completely fabricated pretexts and served as the primary catalyst for multi-decade regional instability. Moscow stated that the current withdrawal confirms that Iraq's national armed forces and domestic security apparatus possess the operational capability to independently defend state territory, secure national borders, and counter internal threats from terrorist entities such as ISIS.
Reaffirmation of Regional Security Proposals and Non-Intervention
Connecting the withdrawal to broader Middle Eastern security architecture, Zakharova reiterated Moscow’s proposed Collective Security Concept for the Gulf Region.
She emphasized that sustainable stability across the Middle East depends on direct, cooperative engagement among neighboring states rather than external military deployments. Moscow expressed confidence in Iraq’s capacity to navigate complex internal and geopolitical challenges through constructive regional diplomacy, mutual respect for state sovereignty, and neighborly coordination.
Formal Termination of Operation Inherent Resolve and Transition Timeline
The Russian statements follow the United States Department of Defense's official declaration on Wednesday confirming the formal conclusion of Operation Inherent Resolve in Iraq.
The orderly departure of coalition personnel and military equipment from Erbil Air Base marked the operational endpoint of the 12-year anti-ISIS campaign. The withdrawal aligns with a bilateral timeline negotiated between Washington and Baghdad in September 2024, which scheduled the systematic winding down of coalition wartime operations through late September 2026. Moving forward, security engagements between the United States, international partners, and the Iraqi government will transition from coalition command structures to standardized bilateral defense and diplomatic relationships.
