President Biden prepares to withdraw US troops from Iraq by end of year

U.S. President Joe Biden says he will withdraw his troops from Iraq by the end of this year.

However, the President said that the Iraqi Army will continue to provide the necessary advice and training.

The announcement came after talks at the White House with President Joe Biden and Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi.

It is estimated that about 2,500 American troops are stationed in Iraq in support of government forces.

The U.S. president has said the group could remain in Iraq but would withdraw in support of the Iraqi prime minister.

Protests erupted over the continued presence of US troops in Iraq after a US drone strike last year killed a former Iraqi general, Qasem Soleimani, and an Iranian-backed Shia Muslim leader.

Hundreds of rockets, mortars, and drones have been fired at US-backed Shiite camps supporting the Iraqi government, prompting calls for US troops to withdraw.

However, President Joe Biden recently noted that the end of a war that began under President George W. Bush would mark the end of this year.

President Biden has said he will withdraw his troops from Afghanistan.

At the White House, President Biden told his diplomatically that he was withdrawing troops from Iraq, saying, “We are moving into this new phase, but our counter-terrorism cooperation will continue.”

“Today our relationship is stronger than ever, and our cooperation is for the economy, the environment, health, education, culture, and much more, but Iraq does not need any foreign troops,” the Iraqi Prime Minister said.