- United States and Iraq to engage in talks on potential withdrawal of American troops, marking a significant milestone in joint effort against ISIS.
- Attacks on US forces by Iranian-backed militants in Iraq and Syria have been ongoing, with over 150 incidents in the past year.
- Defense officials emphasize collaborative effort with Iraq to determine future presence of US military in Iraq, highlighting the need for Iraq to take the lead in defeating ISIS.
Additional Coverage:
The United States and Iraq are set to engage in formal talks that could eventually lead to the withdrawal of American troops from the country. This marks a significant milestone in their joint effort to combat the Islamic State. The decision to proceed with these discussions, known as the Higher Military Commission, was made shortly after Iranian-backed forces in Iraq launched a series of missile attacks on a U.S. base, resulting in injuries to several service members. Defense officials have stated that the recent attack did not influence the decision to initiate negotiations and that talks could have begun earlier if not for the Israel-Hamas conflict.
Over the past year, there have been approximately 60 attacks on U.S. forces in Iraq and over 90 in Syria by Iranian-backed militants who blame the United States for its support of Israel. Presently, there are approximately 2,500 American troops in Iraq and 900 in Syria, tasked with preventing the resurgence of the Islamic State. Officials have refrained from specifying when or if troops will be withdrawn.
A senior defense official, speaking anonymously, emphasized the collaborative effort between the U.S. and Iraq in determining the future presence of American military in Iraq, while also ensuring that Iraq takes the lead in permanently defeating the Islamic State. However, the official declined to provide any further details about the discussions.
Since 2014, the U.S. has been working with Iraq to reclaim territory from the Islamic State and has deployed troops to provide training and advice to Iraqi security forces. However, Iran’s influence over the Iraqi government and the Shiite militias, which are nominally under government control, poses challenges. Following the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas conflict last year, Iranian-backed militias in Iraq began posing an increased threat to U.S. forces.
The presence of U.S. troops in Iraq and their operations against Iranian-backed militants have been sources of tension for Iraqi lawmakers. Iraq’s foreign minister has expressed the desire to establish a clear timetable for the presence of international coalition advisors in the country.
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has emphasized that any decision to transition the U.S.-led coalition mission will depend on three factors: the threat of the Islamic State, operational and environmental requirements, and the capabilities of Iraqi security forces. Secretary Austin reiterated the United States’ commitment to a secure, stable, and sovereign Iraq.
The recent attack on U.S. troops at an Iraqi airbase involved 17 ballistic missiles and rockets, with two ballistic missiles successfully evading U.S. air defenses.