The Combat Mission in Iraq Has Ended. But Troops Aren’t Coming Home
Train-advise-assist will continue, Pentagon says, with no force cuts planned.
By Tara Copp
Senior Pentagon Reporter, Defense One
December 9, 2021
The Iraqi government announced Thursday that U.S. forces had officially ended their combat mission in Iraq, a formality that is not expected to shrink the U.S. presence there nor much change what the troops do.
“There's no significant posture change in Iraq right now. The numbers are still where they were, which is about 2,500. Remember, this is a change in the mission, right? Not necessarily a changing physical posture,” Pentagon press secretary John Kirby said Thursday.
U.S. forces invaded Iraq in 2003, withdrew in 2011, and returned in 2014 to help rebuild the Iraqi Army and fight the Islamic State. For a number of years now, Kirby said, they have been in an advise-and-assist role, helping Iraqi forces to clear out remaining pockets of ISIS.
https://www.defenseone.com/threats/2021/12/combat-mission-iraq-has-ended-troops-arent-coming-home/187433/
