BAGHDAD – The Iraqi government on Thursday officially signed an agreement to take over the US embassy's diplomatic support center at Baghdad International Airport, according to the Iraqi Foreign Ministry.

The agreement was signed at the ministry headquarters by Iraqi Deputy Foreign Minister Mohammed Hussein Bahr Al-Uloom and charge d'affaires at the US embassy in Iraq Steven Fagin, the ministry said in a statement.

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The handover is part of the Iraqi government's efforts to finalize procedures regarding the conclusion of the US-led international coalition and the foreign military presence in Iraq, in accordance with the timeline set for Sept 30 this year, it said.

Bahr Al-Uloom stressed the importance of the move in transitioning bilateral ties to a new phase of partnership, particularly in the economic, development, and energy sectors.

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The facility has been repeatedly targeted by drone and rocket attacks this year, following joint Israeli-US strikes on Iran on Feb 28 and Iran's subsequent retaliatory salvos against Israel and US regional military assets.

Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi has emphasized that Sept 30 is the firm deadline for ending the US-led coalition's military mission in Iraq and completing its troop withdrawal and that Oct 1 will mark a new era for Iraq, as the country becomes free of foreign military presence and exercises full national sovereignty over its territory.