“I must emphasize that simply because there has been so much misinformation on this topic recently: our security partnerships will continue.
Our regular military presence in the region has been maintained for over 70 years.
And this fundamental reality will not change, "he said, quoted by TASS.
Hood added that the United States has a small number of combat-ready troops in the region who "train and instruct partners."
In April, the US ambassador to Baghdad, Matthew Tuller, said the United States had no plans to increase its military presence in Iraq.