US will not withdraw all troops from Iraq despite ending anti-IS mission

ABC News quoted US officials emphasizing that this agreement does not mean the US will withdraw its troops from Iraq, but rather a transition to a new military relationship between the two sides. The decision was made amid escalating tensions in the Middle East.

US soldiers are seen in Kirkuk province (Iraq) on March 29, 2020.

In a statement on September 27, US officials said the deal would take place in two phases. In the first phase, which will last until September 2025, the coalition’s mission against IS will end and US forces will leave some bases. It is unclear how many troops will leave under the deal.

In phase two, the US will remain in Iraq in some capacity until 2026 to support anti-IS operations in Syria. This will depend on conditions on the ground and consultations with future Iraqi leaders, Al Arabiya quoted a US official as saying.

"Therefore, it needs to be clearly explained that while the international coalition mission in Iraq ends in September 2025, the coalition's military mission operating in Syria will continue," the official added.

The US-Iraq defense relationship will then shift from an alliance to a broader bilateral security relationship, under which the US will continue to support Iraqi forces and maintain pressure on IS.

US officials stressed that discussions about the role and scale of Washington's military presence in Iraq would be the subject of future discussions between the two countries.

"The United States is not withdrawing its troops from Iraq," Pentagon Deputy Press Secretary Sabrina Singh told reporters on September 27. The United States currently has about 2,500 troops in Iraq, leading an 87-member coalition formed in 2014 to repel IS as the group rampaged across Iraq and Syria.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/my-se-khong-rut-het-quan-khoi-iraq-du-cham-dut-nhiem-vu-chong-is-185240928165801035.htm