President Joe Biden announced Monday the United States’ nearly 20-year combat mission in Iraq will end by the end of 2021. The video above is from a Monday meeting at the White House between President Biden and Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi.
“Our shared fight against ISIS is critical for the stability of the region, and our counterterrorism cooperation will continue even as we shift to this new phase we’re going to be talking about,” Biden said.
The plan to shift the American military mission to a strictly advisory and training one will be spelled out in a broader communique to be issued by U.S. and Iraq following the visit according to a senior official. “I’m looking forward to consulting with the prime minister today,” Biden said. “We have a lot to talk about. He’s been a good friend, and I’m anxious to get going.””
Late last year, Former President Donald Trump reduced the number of U.S. troops in Iraq from 3,000 and 2,500. Biden will not say how many U.S. troops would remain in Iraq when the combat mission is officially over. That 2,500 number may not go down much due to the expected advisory and training mission.
Dan Caldwell, a senior adviser to Concerned Veterans for America, said the U.S. troops that stay in Iraq will remain at risk. “Regardless of whether their deployment is called a combat mission, U.S. troops will remain under regular attack as long as they remain in Iraq,” Caldwell said in a statement. “An American military presence in Iraq is not necessary for our safety and only risks the loss of more American life.”
The decision to switch to an advise-and-train mission was originally announced in April. However, a timeline was not discussed at the time.
Monday’s announcement came less than three months before Iraq’s parliamentary elections slated for Oct. 10. “We support strengthening Iraq’s democracy and we’re anxious to make sure the election goes forward in October, and we’re also committed to our security cooperation,” Biden said.