President Donald Trump is making an unannounced visit to Iraq - his first ever visit with US troops in the troubled region.
Trump landed at an airbase west of Baghdad after dark Wednesday, leaving behind a government shutdown and other upheavals at home.
The trip also comes after Trump abruptly made the decision to pull US forces out of neighbouring Syria, against the advice of top aides and commanders, including Defense Secretary James Mattis, who resigned the next day.
Trump said he had told his advisers "let's get out of Syria", but was then persuaded to stay, before deciding to bring the 2,000 troops home.
"I think a lot of people are going to come around to my way of thinking. It's time for us to start using our head," the president told reporters at the Al Asad Air Base where he and first lady Melania Trump spent three hours on the ground visiting US troops.
Trump, who begins his third year in office next month, had faced criticism for not visiting US troops stationed in harm's way. He told the Associated Press in October that he didn't think such a visit was "overly necessary".
He left Washington amid immense turmoil in the US.
(FRANCE 24 with REUTERS and AP)
