Baghdad: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed on Friday that the U.S. Congress' decision to repeal the war authorizations against Iraq marks an important step in reinforcing the principle of respect for sovereignty and strengthening partnership with Washington, stressing that the move reflects the progress of bilateral relations.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, Deputy Foreign Minister Hisham Al-Alawi told the official news agency that the congressional vote to revoke the authorizations for war on Iraq effectively ends outdated legislations that had granted U.S. Presidents George H. W. Bush in 1991 and George W. Bush in 2002 broad powers to launch military operations without seeking new congressional approval.

He explained that the first authorization covered the 1991 Gulf War to liberate Kuwait from Saddam Hussein's forces, while the second provided the legal basis for the 2003 invasion of Iraq and the overthrow of Saddam's regime. Al-Alawi added that the importance of this repeal today lies in the absence of any legal justification for keeping such authorizations, in addition to preventing any future U.S. president from exploiting them to launch military action in Iraq or the wider region without congressional consent.

The Deputy Minister stressed that the decision also carries symbolic significance, sending a clear message that the United States is no longer at war with Iraq. He pointed out that the current military cooperation against ISIS remains unaffected, as it is conducted under separate agreements and understandings, not under the repealed war powers.

It is noteworthy that the U.S. House of Representatives recently voted to abolish the legal justifications that were used to wage war on Iraq in 1991 and 2003, in a fresh attempt to limit the president's authority to unilaterally declare wars.