Acting US Defense Secretary Christopher Miller announced that the number of US forces in both Iraq and Afghanistan has now reached 2,500, in implementation of the directives of outgoing President Donald Trump.
Miller said in a statement that "the United States is closer than ever to ending nearly 20 years of war," considering that the progress achieved on the peace path in the two countries allows reducing the number of forces deployed there without reducing the level of security for Americans and their counterparts.
Miller noted that the reduction in the number of forces in Iraq reflects the development of the capabilities of the Iraqi forces, and the improvement in their management of the threats posed by ISIS.
The American minister considered that the reduction in the number of troops "does not mean a change in US policy."
He also stressed his country's continued support for Iraq with intelligence information and air power, to ensure the continued defeat of ISIS.
And on Afghanistan, Miller said that Washington is closer than ever to ending a war that lasted about two decades, through a political process led by Afghans.
Miller confirmed that the Pentagon will proceed with its plans to reduce the number of troops in Afghanistan to zero by next May, provided that conditions are right for that, considering that this depends on progress in the path of peace talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban.