Iraqi National Security Advisor Qasim al-Araji announced that Iraq and the United States have reached an agreement to end the international coalition’s mission in Iraq by September 2026.

In a press statement on Friday, al-Araji also revealed that the U.S. played a role in preventing Israel from attacking Iraq. He warned that Washington’s withdrawal from Syria could pose a significant security risk to the region, adding that Iraq had not been officially informed of any plans for a U.S. troop withdrawal from northeastern Syria.

Discussing regional relations, al-Araji described Iraq’s ties with Saudi Arabia as a “model for cooperation with our neighbors.” He also emphasized Iraq’s efforts to remove the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) from its territory and noted that there has been significant progress in restricting weapons to state control.

Regarding Syria, al-Araji reassured that Iraq faces no immediate threat from its western neighbor and has received assurances from Damascus regarding border security. However, he stressed the need for greater cooperation between Iraq and Syria in the fight against terrorism.

The announcement comes amid ongoing security and diplomatic challenges in the region, as Iraq seeks to balance its relationships with international and regional partners while maintaining stability.