US says Iraq has entered 'new phase' under Prime Minister al-Zeydi

BAGHDAD, Iraq — The US State Department said Iraq has entered a new phase of full cooperation with Washington under Prime Minister Ali al-Zeydi, who hosted President Donald Trump on July 14. State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said the United States strongly backs Iraq's vision for a brighter future and aims to prevent attacks originating from or transiting Iraqi territory while building a mutually beneficial partnership. The two countries agreed in September 2024 on a phased wind-down of the US-led international coalition's military mission against ISIS in Iraq. The first phase was completed in September 2025, though some American forces remain in the Kurdistan Region to support counter-ISIS operations. The final phase is scheduled to conclude by the end of September 2026. The coalition was established in 2014 after ISIS seized large parts of Iraq and Syria, with its mandate later shifting toward training, advisory and intelligence support. Baghdad has argued that Iraqi forces have reached a level capable of assuming security responsibility and tracking the group's cells.