US
and coalition forces are preparing to fully withdraw from bases in Iraq on Wednesday, ending a two-decade military presence that has left hundreds of thousands of Iraqi civilians and thousands of American troops dead.
According to a
US
official cited by “The Wall Street Journal”, Washington has emphasized to Iraq the necessity of safeguarding its sovereignty and preventing attacks launched from its territory by Iran-backed armed groups.
A Pentagon official told the newspaper that while the United States is concluding its formal military operations, it will maintain intelligence, surveillance, and other regional capabilities that could be utilized within Iraq.
A
US
defense official confirmed that military aircraft transported equipment and personnel out of Erbil ahead of Wednesday’s deadline. Meanwhile, current and former
US
officials stated that a contingent of
US
Marines will remain to secure
US
diplomatic missions.
The officials added that the
US
military has already withdrawn a Patriot air defense missile battery stationed near Erbil, noting that remaining air defense systems will likely be deployed to protect the
US
Embassy in Baghdad and the Consulate in Erbil.
