SULAIMANI (ESTA) — White House Coordinator for the Middle East and North Africa Brett McGurk stressed during his meetings with Iraqi officials that there are “no longer” U.S. forces serving in a combat role in Iraq, the White House said on Monday.
McGurk, deputy assistant to U.S. President Joe Biden, arrived in Baghdad on Sunday to meet Iraqi President Barham Salih, Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi and former Parliament Speaker Mohammed al-Halbousi.
In Erbil where he was arrived on Monday, McGurk held talks with Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani, Deputy Prime Minister Qubad Talabani and Bafel Jalal Talabani.
The White House said McGurk confirmed Biden’s commitment to the results of the Strategic Dialogue with the Iraqi government, in which the United States agreed to end combat role of the U.S. forces in Iraq.
He underscored that “there are no longer U.S. forces serving in a combat role in Iraq”, the White House said in a statement.
“This transition was made possible because of the tremendous progress achieved by Iraqi Security Forces, including the Peshmerga, in leading the fight against ISIS,” it added.
The White House further said the U.S-led Coalition Forces remaining in Iraq would be present at the invitation of the Iraqi government with a mission limited to advising, assisting and enabling the Iraqis forces to ensure Islamic State (ISIS) can never resurge.
The coalition forces announced on Thursday the end of their combat mission in Iraq ahead of the end of the year.
Iraq’s National security advisor said the Coalition’s combat troops were to withdraw.
In July, U.S. President Joe Biden and Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi sealed an agreement to formally end the combat mission in Iraq by the end of 2021.
The United States has kept around 2,500 troops in Iraq since 2020.
U.S. commander for the Middle East Marine Gen. Frank McKenzie said in an interview with AP on Thursday that the United States would keep the current 2,500 troops in Iraq for the foreseeable future and that it would still provide air support and other military aid for Iraq’s fight against Islamic State (ISIS).
