Iraq looks forward to the withdrawal of US-led troops starting in September
Iraq wants US-led military coalition forces to begin withdrawing from September and formally end their work by September, with some US troops likely to remain in a newly negotiated advisory capacity, four Iraqi sources said.
Iraqi sources and US officials said the Iraqi position was being discussed with US officials in Washington this week at a security summit, and that there was no formal agreement on ending the coalition or any associated timetable yet.
US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller told a news briefing that the two sides were meeting in Washington this week to determine how to transfer the mission of the US-led coalition based on the threat posed by Islamic State, adding that he had no further details.
US-led forces invaded Iraq in 2003, toppled former President Saddam Hussein, withdrew in 2011 and returned in 2014 to fight Islamic State at the head of the coalition.
