US troops to leave Iraq, end ISIS combat mission by end of 2026

Lauren Taylor

THE U-S HAS ANNOUNCED A DEAL WITH THE IRAQI GOVERNMENT TO WRAP UP THE MILITARY MISSION IN IRAQ THAT’S WORKING TO DEFEAT ISIS. 

U-S OFFICIALS REVEALED THE TWO-PHASE TRANSITION PLAN ON FRIDAY … THAT WILL CLOSE THE “OPERATION INHERENT RESOLVE” TASK FORCE BY THE END OF 20-26. 

THE FIRST PHASE WILL BEGIN AFTER THE NOVEMBER ELECTION.

THAT’S WHEN AMERICAN FORCES WILL START DEPARTING FROM AIN AL-ASAD AIRBASE IN WESTERN IRAQ AND MOVE TO HAREER BASE IN NORTHERN IRAQ. 

THIS IS EXPECTED TO RUN THROUGH SEPTEMBER OF NEXT YEAR.

IN THE SECOND PHASE, IRAQ WILL ALLOW THE U-S COALITION TO KEEP USING ITS TERRITORY FOR MISSIONS ACROSS THE BORDER INTO SYRIA UNTIL AT LEAST SEPTEMBER 20-26. 

THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION HAS NOT SAID HOW MANY OF THE APPROXIMATELY 25-HUNDRED TROOPS STILL SERVING IN IRAQ WILL STAY THERE. 

HOWEVER, THE U-S STATE DEPARTMENT SAID THE MILITARY MISSION WOULD ULTIMATELY TRANSITION TO A BILATERAL SECURITY RELATIONSHIP. 

THIS ALL COMES AT A CONTENTIOUS TIME FOR THE MIDDLE EAST WITH THE ESCALATING CONFLICT BETWEEN ISRAEL AND TWO IRANIAN-BACKED MILITANT GROUPS IN LEBANON AND GAZA. 

ON MONDAY, AN ISRAELI STRIKE KILLED HEZBOLLAH LEADER HASSAN NASRALLAH IN LEBANON.

U-S SECRETARY OF STATE ANTONY BLINKEN WEIGHED IN … CALLING FOR DIPLOMACY.

“lebanon, the region, the world are safer without him … this is not the time to let up … it’s a moment to recommit to our common mission and decisively defeat isis and ensure greater security and stability for all of our all people.”

IRAQI PRIME MINISTER MOHAMMAD SHIA AL-SUDANI WHO HAS TIES TO IRAN HAS CALLED FOR THE U-S TO TRANSITION ITS COUNTER-ISIS MISSION.

HE INCREASED THOSE CALLS AFTER AMERICAN FORCES FOUGHT AGAINST IRANIAN-BACKED MILITIA GROUPS DURING THE WAR IN GAZA.

THE RECENT AGREEMENT … MARKS THE THIRD TIME IN THE LAST TWO DECADES THAT THE U-S HAS ANNOUNCED A FORMAL TRANSITION OF THE MILITARY’S ROLE IN IRAQ.

FOR SAN I’M … LAUREN TAYLOR. 

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