Iraq Government to Discuss 'Full Withdrawal' With US in June

US army forces during a training session at the Taji camp, north of Baghdad. (File photo: AFP)

The Iraqi government is serious about the implementation of the parliament's resolution concerning the withdrawal of US forces from the country, announced Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Major General Abdul Karim Khalaf.

Earlier in June, the Iraqi parliament approved a bill demanding the pullout of all foreign military forces from the country, days after the assassination of the commander of Iran’s al-Quds Force, General Qassem Soleimani, and the deputy head of Iraq's Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, in a US airstrike near Baghdad International Airport.

Speaking to al-Sabah newspaper, Khalaf said the letter that US ambassador to Baghdad Douglas Silliman delivered to caretaker prime minister Adel Abdul-Mahdi was very positive and covered all possible forms of strategic relationship between Iraq and the US in detail.

“It was important and good.”

The General indicated that the US has significantly reduced the number of its troops following the agreement with the Iraqi government as a gesture of goodwill.

He added that the security relationship between Iraq and the US will continue within the framework of training operations and exchange of experiences even at the time of implementing the troop withdrawal decision. In addition, the negotiations between the two countries will address security, economic, and political aspects within the strategic framework of the agreement.

Military sources estimate there are 5200 US troops on the Iraqi territories distributed over military bases to the north and west of the country, including Ein al-Assad base in Anbar province.

Iraqi parliamentary parties, namely those affiliated with Iran, are seeking the US pullout from the country.

Iraqi legal experts believe the final decision on the withdrawal will be postponed until the Iraqi government is formed stating that the outgoing government, chaired by Abdulmahdi, lacks the legal and constitutional capacity to do so.

The Iraqi parliament is not authorized to take decisions relating to the withdrawal of US troops, which is within the competence of the new government that should receive the parliament’s confidence vote, according to experts.