Intel: US plans to reduce troops in Iraq
The Pentagon plans to reduce its current troop presence in Iraq by about one-third as President Donald Trump heads for November's vote on his reelection amid a campaign promise to end US military involvement in conflicts abroad.
The Pentagon plans to reduce its current troop presence in Iraq by about one-third as President Donald Trump heads for November's vote on his reelection amid a campaign promise to end US military involvement in conflicts abroad, the Wall Street Journal reported today, citing anonymous US officials.
The reductions are scheduled to take place over the next two to three months, the report said.
Trump is likely to publicly mention the troop reduction soon. A spokesperson for the US-led coalition did not immediately return a request for comment.
Why it matters: Any US drawdown is ultimately a political decision, military officials say, but it is also a sign that the international military coalition’s mission to defeat the Islamic State (IS) is entering its final phase.
