Iraq Expects Announcement to End US Combat Mission

Members of a top Iraqi delegation expect to reach an agreement Friday with the Biden administration to end the U.S. combat mission in Iraq, the country’s foreign minister told VOA on Thursday.

In an exclusive interview with VOA’s Kurdish Service, Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein discussed the proposed nature of cooperation between his country and U.S. forces once an agreement is reached, particularly in the fight against the Islamic State group.

“In my opinion, we will reach the agreement on Friday and then it will be announced that [American] fighting forces — I am talking about the fighting forces — will not remain in Iraq. But how they will not remain and when they exit is related to a timeline agreed on by both sides as well as technical matters and other issues related to the security of the forces,” Hussein told VOA.

The discussions in Washington are happening just days before a Monday meeting between U.S. President Joe Biden and Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi at the White House. The two plan to discuss a wide array of topics, including cooperation on political, economic, security and cultural issues.

Hussein is to meet Friday with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken. The Iraqi official told VOA that their discussions “will be on a range of issues including oil, energy, electricity, gas, culture, health, military and security, and finance.”

Earlier this week, a suicide bomb ripped through the Iraqi capital, killing at least 34 people. The attack, claimed by the Islamic State group, is the kind of violence that Iraqi forces, trained and equipped by the United States, are trying to deter.

When asked about the threat posed by the Islamic State group, Hussein said, “Naturally, the security and military sector will be an important subject in the conversation. America and Iraq have been allies and will remain allies against IS.

“What was called the Islamic State, or IS, has been destroyed and has since turned from an organization owning a state into a terrorist organization. Assistance against IS will remain,” he said.

U.S. support is expected to continue and will be a key focus in al-Kadhimi’s meeting with Biden, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said, responding to VOA.

“Their government is requesting continuous support from us and the coalition for training and enabling their forces — its forces — logistics, intelligence sharing and other areas of security cooperation,” Psaki said.