Washington, July 14, (dpa/GNA) – The US military will fully withdraw from Iraq by September 30, Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi said during a meeting with US President Donald Trump in Washington on Tuesday.
“Well, we don’t think we need the military there anymore,” Trump said at the White House. He added that the United States was there to help if Iraq needed it, but he did not believe that would be necessary.
Trump and al-Zaidi confirmed a previously announced timeline for the long-discussed withdrawal. The number of US troops has already been reduced in recent months.
In January, US soldiers left the key Ain al-Assad base completely and handed control to Iraqi security forces. Previously, around 2,500 US troops were deployed in the country, according to US figures. After the withdrawal from Ain al-Assad, US troops remained in Erbil in the Kurdish region, at a base near Baghdad airport and in the capital’s government district known as the Green Zone.
US withdrawal and parallel disarmament of militiasAl-Zaidi’s government, is tying the planned US withdrawal to the disarmament of militias that have major military and political influence in Iraq and are supported by Iran to varying degrees. This disarmament is to be completed by September 30, a huge challenge, as the most powerful militias in the country reject it.
The armed groups would have no right to exist after that date, al-Zaidi said. In 2014, the US launched an international coalition in Iraq and neighbouring Syria to fight the Islamic State terrorist militia. The operation began after the militia overran large areas there. Islamic State is considered militarily defeated, but its fighters remain active in both countries and carry out attacks.
The US military continues to bomb its targets in Iraq, as well as others linked to Iran-backed militias, as part of the Iran war.
The US invaded Iraq in 2003. The military operation led to the overthrow of then-ruler Saddam Hussein. At times, more than 160,000 US troops were stationed in Iraq.
After their withdrawal in 2011, only a small troop contingent remained, which was increased again due to the fight against Islamic State. Iran-backed militias and political forces in the country in particular have long been calling for a complete withdrawal of US troops.
Trump praised his guest as a “great leader.” Al-Zaidi’s visit is his first official trip abroad since taking office, as Iraq’s prime minister in the spring, underlining the importance of the US for Iraq. Businessman al-Zaidi was previously a largely unknown figure in politics.
“This man just won an important election,” said Trump. “You are very well represented,” he added, referring to the Iraqi people.
GNA