Iraqi security sources told Al-Jazeera that the current reduction in the size of the international coalition's military presence in Iraq, led by the United States, is part of an operation to replace it with another from NATO in the future.

The sources added that the Iraqi government had begun negotiations with NATO to this end with the aim of ending the roots of tension represented by the targeting of American forces operating within the coalition forces by Iraqi armed factions.

The Commander of the US Central Command, General Kenneth Mackenzie, announced today that his country will reduce the number of its forces in Iraq from about 5,200 soldiers to 3,000 this month, according to US media.

MacKenzie announced his country's intention to reduce the number of its forces in Iraq to 3,000 soldiers this month (French)

McKinsey explained the decision to reduce the forces, including what he described as the tremendous progress achieved by the Iraqi forces.

He added that the number of remaining forces would allow to continue providing assistance to the Iraqis to eradicate the remnants of ISIS in Iraq and to ensure its permanent defeat.

And McKinsey indicated that the decision was made in consultation and coordination with the Iraqi government and coalition partners.

In a related context, the German government decided to reduce the number of its soldiers participating in Iraq to a maximum of 500 soldiers instead of 700.

German Defense Minister Angret Kramp-Karenbauer indicated that the Iraqi government wants to continue training its security forces, not the mission that Germany contributes to within the framework of the international coalition to combat ISIS.

It added that Berlin will fulfill its contribution adequately to the new maximum troop participation in the mission.

In light of the US decision to withdraw its forces from Iraq, the Iraqi MP and member of the Parliamentary Security and Defense Committee expressed his hope that the US administration would be serious about withdrawing its forces.

MP Kata Najman said that the Iraqi parliament issued a decision early this year to demand the withdrawal of foreign forces from Iraq.

He pointed out that the Iraqi government should continue to schedule the withdrawal of all American and foreign forces from Iraq.

Forces tracking the international coalition during a military operation in Iraq (Al-Jazeera)

A series of withdrawals,


and the Iraqi forces had received 8 locations from the international coalition forces since last March, and they are as follows:

  • On March 19, 2020, the US forces withdrew from the Al-Qaim base in Anbar Province, western Iraq.

  • On March 26, 2020, American forces withdrew from their positions at the Qayyarah base in Nineveh Governorate (northern Iraq), and handed them over to the Iraqi side.

  • On March 29, 2020, US forces withdrew from the "K1" air base in Kirkuk Governorate, north of Baghdad.

  • On March 30, 2020, the coalition forces handed over the presidential palaces camp in Mosul to the Iraqi side.

  • On April 4, 2020, the US forces withdrew from the Al-Taqawad base in Habbaniyah, Anbar Governorate.

  • On April 7, 2020, the French forces of the international coalition withdrew from their camp in the vicinity of Baghdad International Airport, known as the Sixth Division camp.

  • On July 25, 2020, the Spanish forces withdrew from Basmaya camp, southeast of the capital, Baghdad.

  • On August 23, 2020, the US forces withdrew from Camp Taji, north of Baghdad.