The Pentagon to Shafaq News: No change in the plan to withdraw from Iraq.

The US Department of Defense (Pentagon) confirmed, in a statement to Shafaq News Agency on Tuesday, that the plan for the withdrawal of US forces from Iraq is still proceeding within the announced framework, denying any changes or delays due to recent political or regional developments.

The Pentagon said in an official response to Shafaq News Agency’s inquiry: “We are on the same path that was reaffirmed in the joint statement below issued in September 2024.”

This response comes amid talks held within the framework of the Joint High Military Committee between Baghdad and Washington, which was formed in 2023 to discuss the future of the US military presence in Iraq and determine the mechanism for transitioning the relationship from a combat framework to bilateral security cooperation, including training and intelligence support.

The current US military presence in Iraq is distributed across several bases, most notably Ain al-Asad in Anbar and Harir in Erbil. The estimated number of troops is approximately 2,500, performing tasks related to combating ISIS remnants and providing logistical support to Iraqi forces, within the framework of the international coalition.

In early 2020, the Iraqi parliament voted on a resolution requiring the government to set a timetable for ending foreign presence. This followed escalating tensions following the assassination of Iranian Quds Force commander Qassem Soleimani and deputy head of the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, near Baghdad airport.

Despite political pressure from Iraqi Shiite political parties, the United States emphasizes that any withdrawal must be carried out in full coordination with Baghdad and ensure that terrorist threats do not return. The United States emphasizes that the issue is still under negotiation through joint official channels.

Shafaq.com