The US military announced Wednesday, September 9 a reduction in its troops deployed in Iraq, which will drop from 5,200 to 3,000 soldiers by the end of the month.

"Recognizing the great progress made by the Iraqi forces and in consultation and coordination with the Iraqi government and our coalition partners, the United States has decided to reduce its military presence in Iraq from approximately 5,200 to 3,000 personnel during the month of September, "said Kenneth McKenzie, chief of the US military command in the Middle East, in Baghdad.

The White House said on Tuesday that an announcement was near on a further reduction in US troops in Iraq, where US soldiers chasing jihadist sleeper cells face growing attacks from pro-Iranian factions.

"The progress has been significant"

The United States will continue to support the Iraqi army in its fight against the last elements of the Islamic State (IS) group still active in the country, and will maintain a limited presence in Syria, the American general said in a speech to the United States. opportunity for the new commander of the anti-IS coalition, General Paul Calvert, to take office.

"We must continue our cooperation against ISIS with our partners in Iraq and Syria," he said.

"This reduced presence allows us to continue to advise and assist our Iraqi partners in extracting the last remnants of ISIS in Iraq," he added, stressing Washington's confidence in the "ability of Iraqi forces to operate independently ".

"The journey has been difficult, the sacrifice has been immense, but the progress has been significant," he concluded.

"There is still a lot of work to be done."

US President Donald Trump, who will attempt to be re-elected on November 3, notably campaigned in 2016 by promising to put an end to the "endless wars" of the United States, which nevertheless continues to have reduced contingents in countries like Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria.

With AFP and Reuters

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