Major Step Toward Regional Security

Yemen’s Supreme Political Council President Mahdi al-Mashat welcomed the withdrawal of the last US troops from Iraq, ending more than two decades of US military presence in the country, and described it as a major step toward restoring peace and security in West Asia.

Mashat said Saturday that Iraq’s leadership, government, people, resistance forces and religious authorities should be congratulated on what he described as a historic achievement and national victory following the withdrawal of US-led coalition forces from Iraqi territory.

He said the withdrawal of U.S. and other foreign forces from Iraq demonstrated that the occupying powers had failed to achieve their objectives in the face of the Iraqi people’s determination to defend their freedom, sovereignty and independence.

Mashat said the achievement followed more than two decades of aggression, occupation and dominance, which he said had oppressed Iraqis across society, deepened divisions, exploited natural resources and caused widespread destruction and suffering.

A senior Yemeni official said the historic withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq affirmed the Iraqi people’s inherent rights to sovereignty, independence and self-determination, as well as their determination to protect the country’s territorial integrity.

The president of Yemen’s Supreme Political Council praised the sacrifices made by the Iraqi people in their pursuit of freedom and dignity, and paid tribute to those killed or wounded, along with resistance fighters, whom he described as central to the national achievement.

He said the withdrawal of U.S. forces and the international coalition from Iraq was an important step toward bolstering security and peace in the region, paving the way for restoring regional security based on shared interests and greater independence from foreign forces.

A senior Yemeni official urged all regional countries to fully disengage from foreign occupying powers, accusing them of using military and security agreements to mask their alleged schemes behind misleading titles.

The US military presence in Iraq began with the 2003 invasion. Washington withdrew its forces in 2011 but returned them in 2014, citing the need to fight Daesh militants.

The final withdrawal was completed under an agreement between Baghdad and Washington, with the last American troops departing Erbil on September 30.

Iraqi authorities have assumed primary responsibility for the country’s security.