WASHINGTON – The Pentagon formally stated on Tuesday that it would cut back on its military operation in Iraq. This marks a big change in the U.S.’s position in the region.
A high-ranking U.S. defense official, who asked not to be named, went over the main parts of the new plan:
Iraq Takes the Lead: Baghdad will now be in charge of fighting leftover Islamic State (ISIS) groups that are still in Iraq.
Less Troops: The number of U.S. troops in Iraq will drop to less than 2,000, down from about 2,500 at the start of 2025.
Moving to Kurdistan: Most of the U.S. troops who are still in the country will go to Erbil, the capital of the Kurdistan region, where they will mostly work on the counter-ISIS campaign in Syria.
New Baghdad Focus: The U.S. troops who are still in Baghdad will no longer be fighting ISIS directly. Instead, they will be working on typical security cooperation concerns between the two countries.
The U.S. calls this change a “major achievement” since it thinks “ISIS is no longer posing a sustained threat to the government of Iraq or to the U.S. homeland from Iraqi territory.” The Iraqi government also sees the agreement as a political benefit. They have long seen the presence of U.S. soldiers as a destabilizing element and a target for attacks by groups who support Iran.
Still worried about ISIS in Syria
Even while the U.S. is reducing its mission in Iraq, officials are also worried about the situation in Syria, where the U.S. has more than 900 troops as part of the coalition formed in 2014.
The U.S. is still worried about ISIS fighters staying in Syria and the possibility that hundreds of imprisoned fighters could be freed, which could lead to a comeback.
Political Instability: The fear of an ISIS revival is made worse by the recent political turmoil in Syria, where President Ahmed al-Sharaa, a former Al Qaeda leader, led rebel troops to depose Bashar al-Assad’s government last year.
Drawdown Status: The Trump administration has made plans for a Syria drawdown, but the official said that this is still “conditions-based,” and the mission is still in a “status quo situation.”
The plan to leave the Ain al-Asad airbase in Anbar region, which was agreed upon with Iraq last year, is still “in progress,” but no more information or a date has been given.