Iraq Marks 104th Army Day Amid Calls to Strengthen Military Exclusivity

Iraq held a lavish event in the capital, Baghdad, on Saturday to mark the 104th anniversary of the establishment of its army. In spite of mounting local and international requests to guarantee that weapons stay in the hands of the army and government security forces, the ceremony honored the military’s heritage and its contribution to maintaining the country’s sovereignty.

With the theme “A Hand for Peace and Security, A Hand for Construction and Development,” Iraq’s top military and political figures attended the ceremony. Defense Minister Thabit al-Abbasi and Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, who is also the Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces, presided over the event. Officials, military personnel, and international dignitaries gathered to honor the sacrifices of Iraq’s armed forces over the decades.

In his address to the nation, Prime Minister al-Sudani highlighted the evolution of Iraq’s army from its controversial past to its current status as a defender of the people and the state. He emphasized the importance of the military and especially in guarding Iraq against insecurity features including terrorism as well as political instabilities.

”The Iraqi Army has gone through a range of strategic nadirs; from being an instrument employed by dictatorship to restore its dignity as the shield of the nation and its citizens,” al-Sudani stated. ‘Since the disappearance of the dictatorship, nobody can point to our army as an instrument in the hands of a certain ruler, but as an establishment operating according to laws and principles of human rights.’

The prime minister reflected on the army’s loses in combat especially in operations concerning the so called IS and thanked them for the bravery in the effort to take back territory and bring security back to failed states. This he said was the cornerstone of Iraq’s stability and stressed that the army needs to remain independent and professional.

The ceremony occurred during that time when Iraq has raised its concerns among domestic audiences as well as its international partners concerning proliferation of weapons that is beyond states’ control. Many small-scale militias and paramilitary organizations are still active in different regions of the country, some of them are linked to political parties and there is a danger that their actions may pose threat to Iraq’s independence and stability. By doing this Al-Sudani’s remarks seemed to allay these threats by emphasizing a centralized and compliant force.

The prime minister also spoke of regional tensions and instabilities foreseen in Iraq at a memorial event differently. While refusing to compare Iraq with neighboring Syria, al-Sudani termed the speculations about possible regime change baseless.

“Iraq is a sovereign, democratic country, and political transition happens peacefully in it,” he said. “Nobody from outside has any right to impose changes on a country.”

The anniversary comes to mark for Iraq in constructing reconciliation and at the same time stabilizing controlling authority over armed groups in present times. Its theme this year-peace security, construction and development-reflects wider ambitions on the part of the Iraqi leadership to get the country out of decades of fighting and political strife toward a more stable and progressive future.

As the country moves forward, the Iraqi Army remains a symbol of resilience, tasked not only with protecting the nation’s borders but also with upholding the principles of democracy and human rights. For many Iraqis, the army’s continued transformation offers hope for a unified and secure future.