US President Joe Biden said Monday, July 26, that the United States would cease its "combat mission" in Iraq by the end of the year to initiate a "new phase" of military cooperation with the country.
"We will not be at the end of the year in a combat mission" in Iraq but "our cooperation against terrorism will continue even in this new phase, which we are discussing", said Joe Biden, alongside the Iraqi prime minister Moustafa al-Kazimi, without however making any concrete announcement on the troops deployed in Iraq.
The US president and the head of the Iraqi government signed the agreement in the Oval Office of the White House.
This afternoon, I'll be hosting Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi for a meeting in the Oval Office.
I look forward to strengthening the strategic partnership between the United States and Iraq and working to advance bilateral cooperation.
- President Biden (@POTUS) July 26, 2021
"Our role in Iraq will be ... to be available"
With the withdrawal of the last forces in Afghanistan by the end of August, Joe Biden will have put an end, in a few months, to the two longest external conflicts in the history of the United States, which began under the presidency of George W. Bush after the attacks of September 11, 2001.
"Our role in Iraq will be ... to be available, to continue to train, support, help and fight against the Islamic State, but we will no longer be, as of the end of the year, in the areas combat, ”said Joe Biden.
The 2,500 American soldiers currently in Iraq are mainly involved in tracking down fighters from the Islamic State organization.
Their mission will be limited in the future to training Iraqi soldiers.
With AFP
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