Iraqi Air Force planes fly over Baghdad after coalition mission ends

Iraqi planes flying over Baghdad as international coalition mission ends

Baghdad — Al-Wasat Iraqi newspaper

The skies over Baghdad witnessed today flights by aircraft belonging to the Iraqi Air Force, according to reported sightings, coinciding with the country entering a new security phase following the end of the international coalition's military mission in Iraq.

The United States had announced the completion of its troop withdrawal from Iraq on September 30, while the Pentagon said the coalition mission had ended and that security responsibility is shifting to an effort led by Iraqi forces. Washington confirmed it will continue to provide limited support in the areas of training and intelligence to its Iraqi partners.

This shift places greater responsibility on Iraqi forces to protect the airspace and pursue remnants of the Islamic State (ISIS), while no official clarification has yet been issued specifying the nature of the flights seen over Baghdad or the mission for which they were conducted.