Iraq Announces End of Anti-IS Coalition Mission Amid Sovereignty Debate

Iraq has officially announced the end of the international coalition’s mission to combat the Islamic State group, marking the occasion with a ceremony in Baghdad’s Green Zone.

The announcement was accompanied by public celebrations as the country marked the close of the coalition mission.

The occasion also brought the principle of “no weapons outside the law” into focus, placing the question of lawful control over arms alongside the end of the coalition’s role.

Yet the celebrations were accompanied by debate over what full sovereignty means. The formal conclusion of the mission leaves that broader question at the centre of Iraq’s political discussion.