Don’t miss the full story, whose reporting from Qassim Abdul-Zahra at The Associated Press is the basis of this AI-assisted article.
Iraq’s prime minister announced that a small contingent of U.S. military advisers would remain in the country to coordinate counter-Islamic State operations with forces in Syria, despite an agreement last year to wind down the American-led coalition by September.
Some key facts:
• Between 250 and 350 U.S. military advisers and security personnel will remain at the Ain al-Asad air base in western Iraq.
• The advisers will support counter-ISIS surveillance and coordinate with the al-Tanf base in Syria.
• U.S. forces are also stationed at a base adjacent to Baghdad airport and the al-Harir air base in northern Iraq.
• The decision to maintain advisers was influenced by developments in Syria following the fall of former President Bashar Assad in December.
• Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani stated that ISIS no longer poses a significant threat inside Iraq.
• Iraq is seeking to balance its relations with the United States and Iran while avoiding being pulled into regional conflicts.
• Tensions exist between Baghdad and Washington over Iran-backed militias in Iraq, particularly the Popular Mobilization Forces.
• Iraq is preparing for parliamentary elections next month that will determine whether al-Sudani serves a second term.
This article is written with the assistance of generative artificial intelligence based solely on Washington Times original reporting and wire services. For more information, please read our AI policy or contact Ann Wog, Managing Editor for Digital, at awog@washingtontimes.com
The Washington Times AI Ethics Newsroom Committee can be reached at aispotlight@washingtontimes.com.
