BAGHDAD, Jan. 25 (Xinhua) -- Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani said Thursday that it is time to end the mission of the U.S.-led international coalition in Iraq as the Islamic State (IS) militant group no longer poses a threat to Iraq.
Al-Sudani made the remarks during his meeting with the visiting Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares Bueno, who paid an official visit to the country to discuss bilateral relations and regional issues, according to a statement issued by al-Sudani's media office.
"The terrorist organization (IS) no longer poses a threat to the Iraqi state, and our armed forces are fully capable of maintaining security and stability. It is time to move to bilateral relations with all coalition countries," al-Sudani said during the meeting.
For his part, Albares said that the Spanish military advisors are working within the international coalition, stressing his government stance to support any decision taken by the Iraqi government in this regard, according to the statement.
Earlier in the day, Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein said in a joint press conference with his Spanish counterpart that the two sides discussed several topics, including the security situation in the Middle East and the conflict in Gaza.
Spain is part of the U.S.-led international coalition tasked with training and advising the Iraqi security forces in their fight against the IS group. ■
