Mustafa al-Kadhimi (Iraq) - Garner Ted Armstrong Evangelistic Association

Trump, Pentagon set to announce plan to withdraw more US troops from Iraq

Jennifer Griffin, Edmund DeMarche | Fox News — Wed, 09 Sep 2020 13:02:21 +0000

A coordinated announcement is expected sometime Wednesday.

President Trump and the Pentagon plan to announce a reduction of U.S. troop levels from 5,200 to about 3,500, a senior defense official told Fox News.

The coordinated announcement is expected sometime Wednesday and the Iraqis are aware of the decision and are on board, according to the official.

Trump to award Medal of Honor on 9/11 to soldier who rescued 75 hostages

A senior administration official discussed the draw-down with reporters aboard Air Force One on Tuesday night, on condition of anonymity.

ISIS launched more than 100 attacks in Iraq in August, a sharp uptick from previous month

The top U.S. general for the Middle East said in July that he believed the U.S. will keep a smaller but enduring presence in Iraq.

Marine Gen. Frank McKenzie, the commander of U.S. Central Command, said he believes the Iraqis welcome the U.S. and coalition troops, especially in the ongoing fight to keep IS fighters from taking hold of the country again.

Jennifer Griffin@JenGriffinFNC

Sr DoD official, POTUS and Pentagon are planning coordinated announcement Weds that they are cutting US troop levels in Iraq by a third- from 5200 to about 3500. The Iraqis have been consulted and are OK with decision. Announcement was planned before the recent Atlantic article.

Jennifer Griffin@JenGriffinFNC

US military officials have already announced they plan to reduce troops in Afghanistan down to between 4-5,000 from current #. That announcement from the President in coming days: Sr US defense official tells me. There is no change to the 5-600 US troops currently in Syria.

Trump told reporters two weeks ago that “we look forward to the day when we don’t have to be there.” The comments came during an Oval Office meeting with Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi. The move appears to be an attempt by Trump to make good on his promise to end U.S. participation in “endless wars.”

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Military officials have already announced that they plan to reduce troops in Afghanistan down to between 4 to 5,000 from current levels. That announcement will follow from the president in coming days. There will be no immediate change to the approximately 600 U.S. troops currently in Syria, a senior U.S. official told Fox.

The Associated Press contributed to this report

Jennifer Griffin currently serves as a national security correspondent for FOX News Channel . She joined FNC in October 1999 as a Jerusalem-based correspondent. You can follow her on Twitter at @JenGriffinFNC.

Source: https://www.foxnews.com/politics/trump-pentagon-set-to-announce-plan-to-withdraw-more-us-troops-from-iraq

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