At present, about 2,500 US troops nonetheless deployed in Iraq as a part of the coalition that was fashioned in 2014.
The USA and Iraq have held a primary spherical of talks on the way forward for US and different international troops within the nation, with Baghdad anticipating discussions to result in a timeline for decreasing their presence.
Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani in addition to top-ranking officers from each the Iraqi armed forces and the US-led coalition met in Baghdad on Saturday.
The joint fee started “the graduation of the primary spherical of bilateral dialogue between Iraq and america of America to finish the Coalition in Iraq”, Al-Sudani stated in a press release.
“Army consultants will oversee ending the navy mission of the International Coalition towards Daesh [ISIL], a decade after its initiation and after its profitable achievement of its mission in partnership with Iraqi safety and navy forces,” he added.
At present, there are about 2,500 US troops nonetheless deployed in Iraq as a part of the coalition that was fashioned in 2014.
The US says its goals to arrange a committee to barter the phrases of the mission’s finish had been first mentioned final yr.
However as Israel’s struggle on Gaza ramps up, US forces in Iraq and Syria have confronted frequent assaults by Iran-allied teams, leading to US retaliatory assaults and Iraqi complaints of US “aggression” towards its territory.
Since ISIL misplaced its maintain on Iraq, officers have referred to as for the withdrawal of coalition forces, particularly after a US air strike in January 2020 killed Iranian high commander Qassem Soleimani and Iraqi militia chief Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis exterior Baghdad airport.
Iraqi officers have complained that the US assaults violate its sovereignty.
On Thursday, Washington stated it agreed with Baghdad on the launch of “skilled working teams of navy and defence professionals” as a part of the joint fee.
The three working teams would examine “the extent of menace posed by ISIS [ISIL], operational and environmental necessities, and strengthening the rising capabilities of the Iraqi safety forces”, al-Sudani’s workplace stated.
US Pentagon deputy press secretary Sabrin Singh additionally acknowledged that the US navy footprint within the Arab nation “will definitely be a part of the conversations because it goes ahead”.
Whereas the US has stated the choice to debate withdrawal from Iraq was determined upon earlier than October 7, ISIL in Iraq took credit score for the choice and stated in a press release that it “proves that the Individuals solely perceive the language of pressure” and promised to proceed its assaults.