US and Allied forces began to reduce their presence in Iraq, the Pentagon announced Wednesday, reducing the staff of a mission that began more than ten years ago to combat the Islamic State jihadist organization.

After months of discussions, Washington and Baghdad agreed last year on a timetable for a gradual departure from Iraq of the International Coalition troops, which was formed in 2014 to help local forces recover territories occupied by IK in the country.

The Coalition had to leave the bases on the territory of Federal Iraq until September 2025 and in the autonomous Kurdistan, in the northern part of the country, until September 2026.

“This reduction reflects our common success in the fight against IK and marks an effort to achieve constant security cooperation between the United States and Iraq.” Pentagon spokesman Son Parnel said.

“The US government will continue to tune closely with the Iraqi government and the members of the Coalition to ensure a responsible transition”he added.

A senior defense ministry official told reporters that the United States “proceeded to the transition” and that in the end there would be At least 2,000 (American) soldiers in Iraq in overall, a “majority between them” had to have its base on Erbilthe capital of Iraqi Kurdistan.

“There is not simply a need for US troops in federal Iraq to carry out a mission against the Islamic State. Iraq is absolutely capable of doing it alone,” The official added who asked not to be named.

The troops in Erbil will “focus on Syria”he added and clarified that the International Coalition is expected to continue his business for a year in that country by Iraqi Kurdistan.

The official noted that the number of US troops in Syria has been “reduced” and that it is no longer 2,000 but still rises to “More than 900”without clarifying.

The occupation of large areas of Iraq and Syria by the Islamic State since 2014 has caused this coalition to intervene.

The defeat of the Islamic State was declared in 2017 in Iraq and 2019 in Syria, but the Coalition remained in the two countries to combat jihadists who continue to attack there.