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ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — The United States is to move its remaining combat troops out of Iraq following the latest round of strategic dialogue between the two countries, according to a joint statement shared by the State Department.
Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein and his US counterpart Antony Blinken resumed strategic dialogue on Wednesday, continuing discussions on US military disengagement, Iraq’s economy, and other issues.
“Based on the increasing capacity of the ISF [Iraqi Security Forces], the parties confirmed that the mission of US and Coalition forces has now transitioned to one focused on training and advisory tasks, thereby allowing for the redeployment of any remaining combat forces from Iraq,” read the joint statement published on Wednesday evening.
The timing of the withdrawals will be discussed in upcoming “technical meetings,” it added.
This round of strategic talks are the first under the administration of the current US President Joe Biden. Dialogue began under the administration of former President Donald Trump last June.
US forces came to Iraq in 2014 at the request of the Iraqi government to aid in the fight against the Islamic State (ISIS).
"The military bases in which the coalition personnel are present are Iraqi bases and they function exclusively to support Iraq's efforts in the war against ISIS," the statement added.
The US announced in January it was reducing its troops in Iraq to 2,500 due to the "increased capabilities of the Iraqi Security Forces" in fighting ISIS and transitions away from "major combat operations."
Iraqi National Security Adviser Qassem al-Araji held a press conference with FM Hussein following the talks, confirming that "there will be no foreign military bases in Iraq."
"The American side pledged to withdraw a significant number of its forces from Iraq, and it was agreed that the Iraqi security forces will exclusively take over the task of fighting ISIS," Araji said.
Hours before the strategic dialogue was held, Iran-backed armed factions affiliated with the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF or Hashd al-Shaabi in Arabic), threatened to direct "large and precise strikes" against American forces in Iraq if Baghdad and Washington do not announce a clear deadline for the withdrawal of US troops.
"The Iraqi resistance today finds itself obliged to respond with all strength and rigidity and direct large and precise strikes if this dialogue does not include a clear and explicit date for the final withdrawal of the occupation forces, by land, by air, and in a complete manner,” read a statement published by PMF-affiliated Telegram channels.
Resistance factions rejected the joint US-Iraq statement in advance, saying it will be "sloppy and does not contain any indication of the implementation of the (Iraqi) Parliament decision to expel the US forces."
US forces have come under repeated attack since the US assassination of Iranian general Qasem Soleimani in Baghdad in January 2020, leading to a spate of rocket attacks on bases hosting coalition troops and a non-binding parliamentary resolution to expel all foreign troops from the country.
The coalition handed over a series of bases to Iraqi forces last year, leaving a much smaller presence across the country.
Earlier on Wednesday, prime minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi said the "great development" in the capabilities of Iraqi forces had paved the way for the departure of nearly 60 percent of international coalition forces.
"This has enabled Iraq to move soon to the stage where there will be no need for foreign combat units in Iraq," the PM said.
Correction: A previous version of this article quoted a Kurdistan Regional Government official as saying that the Netherlands would be taking over the supervision of military activities at the base at Erbil International Airport from the United States. The Netherlands will not be leading supervision of the course, a spokesperson from the Dutch Consulate in Erbil told Rudaw on April 8, 2021; the piece has been edited to reflect this.
Updated on April 8, 2021
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