In a significant development, joint committees have advanced negotiations regarding the future role of the international coalition in Iraq, according to Yehia Rasool, the military spokesperson for Iraq’s Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani.

“We have a security and military agreement with the United States, and we will deal with Washington within the framework of that agreement,” Rasool stated in an interview with the official Iraqi news agency. He noted that efforts to curtail attacks on U.S. forces and foreign advisers in Iraq have been largely successful.

The discussions come in the wake of recent tensions following U.S. airstrikes on the headquarters of Iraqi militia groups in the Jurf al-Sakhr area of Babylon province. The attacks have raised concerns over their impact on joint security efforts in the region. Rasool remarked that "these dangerous and uncalculated violations have largely undermined the efforts, mechanisms, and joint security work to fight Islamic State in Iraq and Syria."

The U.S. military action, which took place on Tuesday night, targeted areas believed to pose a threat to U.S. forces and the international coalition. U.S. Deputy State Department spokesperson Vedant Patel confirmed that the strikes were aimed at neutralizing potential threats.

The ongoing negotiations are set against the backdrop of a proposal from Iraqi officials for a phased withdrawal of troops from the U.S.-led military coalition. According to sources speaking to Reuters, the proposal suggests that the coalition's mission could formally conclude by September 2025, with the withdrawal process beginning as early as September of this year.

This new phase of negotiations is crucial for defining the future security framework between Iraq and the international coalition, as both sides work to ensure stability and security in the region.