U.S. and Iraqi military and defense officials are expected to continue discussions in the coming weeks about the future of the U.S. military presence in Iraq, a U.S. official told Fox News. The Pentagon is expected to announce a resumption of talks later this week, the official said.
The United States currently has approximately 2,500 troops in Iraq on a mission to defeat ISIS. These troops are stationed at several bases in the country and have been attacked by Iranian proxies in Iraq more than 60 times since October 17. The United States has carried out several attacks targeting these Iranian proxies, including airstrikes on Tuesday that targeted two locations in Kataib. Hezbollah headquarters building and intelligence facility, according to U.S. defense officials.
Secretary of Defense Austin says the US has carried out attacks on Iraqi facilities used by Iranian-backed militias
Iraqi security forces arrive at the scene where senior al-Nujaba commander Abu Taqwa al-Saidi was killed in a US drone strike in Baghdad, Iraq, on January 4, 2024. (Murtada Al Sudani/Anadolu via Getty Images)
The airstrikes put pressure on the Iraqi government to question the US presence in the region. January 4th in America killed a militia leader Baghdad supported some of these attacks against US forces. According to U.S. Central Command, a U.S. drone strike on January 4 targeted and killed Mushtaq Javad Kazim al-Jawali. He was the leader of the Iranian proxy group Harakat al-Nujaba and was involved in planning and carrying out attacks on U.S. military personnel in Iraq.
This particular attack was, in part, what prompted Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani to demand that the United States withdraw its troops from the country just one day later, on January 5th.
U.S. Army soldiers train at Al Asad Air Base. The base is located in western Iraq. (Source: US Army)
“We are setting a date to begin dialogue through the tripartite committee established to decide on a deal to end this presence. This is a commitment from which the government will not back down. , we will not ignore any issue that completes the national issue of 'sovereignty over the land, air and waters of our dear Iraq,' al-Sudani said.
“Our focus remains on the mission to defeat ISIS,” Pentagon spokesman Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder told reporters at a Pentagon briefing on Jan. 4, shortly after the militia leader was killed in a U.S. strike. “But again, we remain focused on the mission of defeating ISIS.” If our troops are threatened, we will not hesitate to defend them.”
Iraq's prime minister defends US military presence, says it's necessary to fight ISIS
Multiple defense officials told Fox News that despite the Iraqi prime minister's words, the Pentagon has not received any requests to end its presence in the region.
Department of Defense spokesperson Air Force Brig. Gen. Patrick Ryder during a press conference at the Pentagon on Tuesday, January 9, in Washington. (AP/Susan Walsh)
Asked if the U.S. was being asked to withdraw troops from Iraq, Ryder told reporters, “I am not aware of any plans. We will continue to work under CJTF-OIR to defeat ISIS.” “We remain very focused on, advising and supporting.” And as you have heard us say many times before, we are there at the invitation of the Iraqi government. ”
Future talks between the U.S. and Iraq were planned in August, long before Hamas invaded Israel and began attacks on U.S. troops in Iraq. The outcome of the talks could be different from what was expected in August.
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An Iraqi Air Force helicopter lands at Ain al-Asad Air Base in Iraq's Anbar province. (Reuters/Tayyer Al Sudani)
In August 2023, before the Middle East conflict began, the United States and Iraq agreed to start a High Military Committee (HMC) for dialogue.According to the Department of Defense press release From that time, “the United States and the Republic of Iraq intended to consult on a future process involving the coalition, separate from the JSCD, and how the coalition's military mission would evolve over time according to the following factors: “We will determine the ISIS threat, operational and environmental requirements, and ISF capability level.”
U.S. officials said the talks will take the form of a working group that includes both Pentagon defense and military officials.
