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Agence France-Presse

Washington and Baghdad will begin discussions expected to lead to a timeline to reduce the presence of troops from the US-led coalition fighting Islamic State, Iraq said on Thursday.
The announcement comes amid inflamed tensions as US forces have repeatedly struck Iran-backed groups in Iraq and Syria in response to dozens of attacks on bases hosting US and coalition troops in both countries.
The attacks have been fuelled by the war in Gaza between Washington ally Israel and the Iran-backed Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas.

The two countries agreed to form working groups that would eventually lead to formulating “a specific and clear timeline ... and to begin the gradual reduction of its [the coalition’s] advisers on Iraqi soil”, Iraq’s foreign ministry said.
The ministry said the timeline would be contingent on evaluating the “threat posed by IS and its danger” as well as the “reinforcement of the capacities of the Iraqi security forces”.
In a statement, US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin confirmed meetings “in the coming days” to discuss the “transition” of the coalition based on the outcomes of the Joint Security Cooperation Dialogue held between the two countries in August.
US strikes militia sites in Iraq, Houthi anti-ship missiles in Yemen
The meetings would “determine how the Coalition’s military mission will evolve on a timeline” based on factors including the threat posed by Islamic State, “operational and environmental requirements” and the capability levels of Iraq’s security forces, the statement said.
There are roughly 2,500 US troops deployed in Iraq and about 900 in Syria as part of the anti-IS coalition launched in 2014.
The US strikes on Iran-backed groups on Wednesday sparked condemnation from Baghdad, with Prime Minister Mohamed Shia al-Sudani calling on the coalition to leave the country.


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A paramilitary of the Hashed al-shaabi (Popular Mobilisation) forces stands guard during the funeral of a comrade, who died in American air strikes targeting Iran-backed groups the day before, at the Hashed al-shaabi forces’ headquarters in Baghdad, Iraq on Thursday. Photo: AFP

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani. Photo: dpa

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Al-Asad Air Base hosts US forces in Iraq. File photo: AFP

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Israel’s President Isaac Herzog speaks at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland on Thursday. Photo: AP

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News

World

United States & Canada

Announcement comes as US forces have struck Iran-backed groups in Iraq and Syria in response to attacks on bases hosting US troops in both countries
US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin confirmed meetings ‘in the coming days’ to discuss the ‘transition’ of the coalition


Announcement comes as US forces have struck Iran-backed groups in Iraq and Syria in response to attacks on bases hosting US troops in both countries.


US, Iraq to discuss timeline to reduce coalition troops: Baghdad

Announcement comes as US forces have struck Iran-backed groups in Iraq and Syria in response to attacks on bases hosting US troops in both countries US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin confirmed meetings ‘in the coming days’ to discuss the ‘transition’ of the coalition

Announcement comes as US forces have struck Iran-backed groups in Iraq and Syria in response to attacks on bases hosting US troops in both countries

US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin confirmed meetings ‘in the coming days’ to discuss the ‘transition’ of the coalition