The Iraqi army has denied reports about extending the date for the withdrawal of US combat forces from the country.
“The date for the departure of (US) combat forces on Dec. 31 is fixed and there is no change,” Major General Tahsin al-Khafaji, spokesman of the Joint Operations Command, told the official Iraqi News Agency.
Baghdad and Washington agreed in July to withdraw US forces from Iraq by the end of 2021. However, an unknown number of US forces would remain to advise and train Iraqi forces.
“The relationship between the two sides after the departure of the combat forces will be an advisory relationship, in the fields of training, armament, intelligence, and security against the Daesh/ISIS terror group,” al-Khafaji said.