The United States announced on Wednesday that it will withdraw 2,200 troops from Iraq by end of September, according to the top U.S. commander in the Middle East.
Troop presence will decrease from 5,200 troops to 3,000, said Gen. Frank McKenzie, commander of U.S. Central Command.
“This reduced footprint allows us to continue advising and assisting our Iraqi partners in rooting out the final remnants of ISIS in Iraq and ensuring its enduring defeat,” he stated.
McKenzie said the withdrawal is because of U.S. “confidence in the Iraqi Security Forces’ increased ability to operate independently.”
He also noted that troop levels in Afghanistan would drop to 4,500 by November. The United States had already reduced its presence in Afghanistan to 8,600 in June.
