Iraq announces end of US-led combat mission in Iraq

BAGHDAD, Dec. 9 (Xinhua) -- Iraqi National Security Adviser Qasim al-Araji announced on Thursday the end of the combat mission in Iraq and the withdrawal of the US-led coalition forces, the official television reported.

Iraqi forces patrol during military operations in the south and west of the northern Iraqi city of Mosul in search of Islamic State (IS) militants, on July 11, 2021. (File photo: AFP)

"Today we have finished the last round of dialogue with the international coalition, which started last year, to officially announce the end of combat mission for the coalition forces and their withdrawal from Iraq," the state-run Iraqiya channel quoted al-Araji as saying.

Al-Araji said that the relationship with the international coalition "will continue in the aspects of training, advice," the channel said.

On Nov. 24, Tahseen al-Khafaji, spokesman of the Iraqi Joint Operations Command, said the foreign combat forces would leave Iraq within 15 days, except for some advisers who will stay to support the Iraqi forces.

"Ending the presence of the foreign forces is proceeding according to the plan, and there is no military base for them except for limited presence in Ayn al-Asad Air Base in the western province of Anbar," al-Khafaji said.

On Jan. 5, 2020, the Iraqi parliament passed a resolution requiring the government to end the presence of foreign forces in the country.

In July this year, the United States and Iraq held a session of strategic dialogue, during which the two countries agreed on withdrawing all US combat troops from Iraq by Dec. 31.