Reuters: Security summit between US and Iraqi officials to discuss military withdrawal

Reuters reported that a security summit between US and Iraqi officials will be held this week in Washington to discuss the future of the US-led coalition in Iraq.

The agency quoted Iraqi sources (unnamed) as saying that Iraq is looking forward to starting the withdrawal of US forces next September to officially end the coalition's work by September 2025, with the possibility of some US forces remaining in an "advisory" capacity.

She added that the Iraqi position is being discussed with US officials in Washington this week at a security summit, noting that there is no formal agreement to end the coalition or any timetable associated with it yet.

In turn, US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said that the two sides are meeting in Washington this week to determine how to transfer the coalition's mission based on the threat posed by the terrorist organization ISIS.

Last January, Washington and Baghdad agreed to form working groups of “military and defense specialists,” within the framework of the Joint Supreme Military Committee, to discuss the future of the US-led coalition on Iraqi soil. Several meetings were held between the two parties as a result.

This comes amid escalating regional tensions, which began with the Israeli war on Gaza since October 7, followed by missile and drone attacks on US and coalition forces in Iraq and Syria.

There are about 2,500 American soldiers in Iraq, while about 900 American soldiers are deployed in Syria, as part of the international coalition launched by Washington in 2014.