US and Iraq Collaboratively Alter Military Presence Following Prolonged Battle Against ISIS

September 27, 2024 TruthUSA

The Pentagon is not disclosing specific details about U.S. troop levels as the mission shifts from a U.S.-led coalition to a bilateral partnership.

In a joint statement released on Sept. 27, the United States and Iraq announced plans for a transition from the current U.S.-led global coalition fighting ISIS to a bilateral security partnership.

The Biden administration and Iraqi leaders said that over the next 12 months, the coalition’s military mission in Iraq will transition to a new phase aimed at supporting Iraqi forces while maintaining pressure on ISIS. During this transition, U.S. troops will vacate some bases they have occupied for two decades in the country.

The statement, issued after nine months of negotiations between the U.S.–Iraq Higher Military Commission (HMC) and coalition partners, outlines a plan to conclude the coalition’s military mission by September 2025.

The Pentagon has not yet provided details on the exact number of the 2,500 U.S. troops still in Iraq who will remain or if there will be a complete withdrawal.

“I think it’s fair to say that our footprint is going to be changing within the country,” U.S. Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh said during a press conference on Friday without specifying troop numbers.

As the U.S. and Iraq progress, the strategic relationship between the two nations remains crucial to their defense planning, the statement mentioned.

Singh stressed that the United States is not withdrawing but rather adjusting its mission in Iraq, with a focus on transitioning from a multinational coalition under Operation Inherent Resolve to a bilateral partnership to highlight the progress made in combating ISIS.

The statement confirmed that while the military mission in Iraq will be completed by September 2025, the coalition’s efforts in Syria will carry on until at least September 2026 based on conditions on the ground.

This extended mission aims to prevent ISIS from regaining a foothold in the region, especially in northeastern Syria.

“We remain fully committed to defeating ISIS,” a senior Pentagon official said in a statement on Sept. 20, acknowledging the strides made over the past decade in dismantling ISIS’s territorial control in Iraq and Syria.

Despite the progress, the official cautioned that ISIS continues to pose a persistent threat.

“With ISIS, you can often say they’re down, but they’re never quite out,” the official remarked.

The Higher Military Commission will oversee the transition, establishing protocols to safeguard coalition advisers in Iraq during the shift to the bilateral partnership.

Iraq reiterated its commitment to protecting foreign military advisers, reiterating that all foreign forces are present in the country at the invitation of the Iraqi government, a point also highlighted by Singh in her comments.

“We are in Iraq at the invitation of the Iraqi government, and our partnership has been instrumental in reducing the threat of ISIS from what it was a decade ago to its current state,” Singh stated.

Both countries reaffirmed their commitment to enhancing security cooperation in line with the U.S.–Iraq Strategic Framework Agreement and the Iraqi Constitution.

The transition aligns with discussions held earlier this year during Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Sudani’s visit to Washington and subsequent high-level dialogues.

Both governments emphasized their shared dedication to a stable, secure, and peaceful Iraq, setting the stage for a lasting partnership.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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