U.S. begins drawing down forces in Iraq

Defense official says military has shifted burden for combating ISIS to Iraqi troops.

- By QASSIM ABDUL-ZAHRA AND KOoNSTANTIN TOROPIN

The U.S. military has begun drawing down its mission in Iraq under an agreement signed with the Iraqi government last year, eventually reducing the number of American troops in the country focused on countering the Islamic State group by about 20%, officials said.

Washington and Baghdad agreed last year under the Biden administration to wind down the military mission in Iraq of an American-led coalition fighting Islamic State by this September, with U.S. forces departing some bases where troops have been stationed during a two-decade-long military presence in the country.

Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said ina statement late Tuesday that the US. “will reduce its military mission in Iraq,” reflecting “our combined success in fighting ISIS.”