IRAQ SAYS ANNOUNCEMENT ON DATE FOR END TO US-LED COALITION MISSION POSTPONED

Fri 16 August 2024:

Iraq’s Foreign Ministry said on Thursday that an announcement on an end date for the US-led coalition’s mission has been postponed due to the “latest developments”. It did not identify the developments, Reuters reports.

The US-Iraq Higher Military Commission, comprising officials from both countries, discussed details of withdrawing advisers from military sites, the Foreign Ministry said in a statement said.

It said the only remaining issues before reaching a deal on ending the coalition’s presence in Iraq were agreement on an announcement date, logical aspects and other details.

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A rare ally of both the US and Iran, Iraq hosts 2,500 US troops and has Iran-backed fighters linked to its security forces. It has witnessed escalating tit-for-tat attacks since the Israel-Palestine war in Gaza erupted in October.

On 5 August, at least five US personnel were injured in an attack against a military base in Iraq.

Iraq wants troops from the US-led military coalition to begin withdrawing in September and to formally end the coalition’s work by September 2025, Iraqi sources have said, with some US forces likely to remain in a newly negotiated advisory capacity.

-MEMO

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