Intel: Coronavirus forces partial US troop drawdown in Iraq

The US-led global coalition to defeat the Islamic State announced today that the coronavirus pandemic has forced “temporary adjustments” in the mission against the terrorist group.

“The unprecedented challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic to the Iraqi and Syrian people, and to our mission, led to temporary adjustments to protect the force during this period, in full coordination with the Iraqi authorities,” the coalition said in a joint statement today released by the US State Department.

Why it matters: While the State Department did not delve into specifics, the “temporary adjustments” indicate that the coronavirus in Iraq and Syria has tossed an uncertain new variable into the fight against the lingering threat posed by the Islamic State.

Still, the US-led coalition maintains that “progress in our campaign allows for the restructuring of our footprint, without prejudice to our ability to carry out our mission.” The United States repositioned its roughly 5,000 troops in Iraq to larger bases throughout the country following rocket attacks from an Iran-backed militia that killed two American and one British soldiers. The Pentagon also announced Friday that “the Iraqi Security Forces have suspended all training” with US forces to prevent the spread of COVID-19.