Top Iraqi and U.S. officials plan to issue a statement calling for U.S. combat troops to leave Iraq by year-end, both nations’ officials said, but would reaffirm the need for a U.S. military presence to help Iraqi forces in their fight against Islamic State.
“The Iranian-backed Shia hard-liners have never differentiated U.S. troops by their mission or status,” said James Jeffrey, a former U.S. ambassador to Iraq.
The small U.S. military presence in Iraq is also used to support the approximately 900 troops the U.S. has in Syria as part of the campaign against Islamic State militants there.
White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki said Thursday that there was a decreasing need for U.S. forces with a combat role in Iraq and that the future American military role in Iraq would be discussed when Mr. Kadhimi meets with Mr. Biden.
In April, the U.S. and Iraq said in a statement that the mission of U.S. and coalition forces was focused on training and advising, and that a schedule for the “Redeployment of any remaining combat forces from Iraq” would be decided in future talks.
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