AhlulBayt News Agency: Iraq aims for the US-led military coalition to start withdrawing in September and to officially end its mission by September 2025, with some American troops potentially remaining in advisory roles, Iraqi sources told Reuters.
The United States and Iraq are set to initiate talks on ending the US-led international military coalition in Iraq and transitioning to bilateral relations, four sources said. This move marks progress in a process that was stalled by the Gaza war.
Three sources told Reuters that the US Ambassador to Iraq, Alina Romanowski, conveyed the message in a letter to Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein on Wednesday. The US has dropped preconditions that attacks by Iran-backed Iraqi militant groups must first stop, these sources added.
Iraq's foreign ministry confirmed that an "important" letter had been handed over and that the prime minister would study it carefully without providing further details.
The talks are expected to take several months, if not longer, with no immediate withdrawal of US troops.
The United States currently has 2,500 troops in Iraq, advising and assisting local forces to prevent ISIS resurgence. Hundreds of troops from other mostly European countries are also in Iraq as part of the US-led coalition established to fight ISIS.
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The United States and Iraq are set to initiate talks on ending the US-led international military coalition in Iraq and transitioning to bilateral relations, four sources said. This move marks progress in a process that was stalled by the Gaza war.
Three sources told Reuters that the US Ambassador to Iraq, Alina Romanowski, conveyed the message in a letter to Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein on Wednesday. The US has dropped preconditions that attacks by Iran-backed Iraqi militant groups must first stop, these sources added.
Iraq's foreign ministry confirmed that an "important" letter had been handed over and that the prime minister would study it carefully without providing further details.
The talks are expected to take several months, if not longer, with no immediate withdrawal of US troops.
The United States currently has 2,500 troops in Iraq, advising and assisting local forces to prevent ISIS resurgence. Hundreds of troops from other mostly European countries are also in Iraq as part of the US-led coalition established to fight ISIS.
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