Last Updated on August 23, 2020, 5:38 AM AST by Anthony Morris
The US-led international coalition troops have withdrawn from Taji military base in Iraq on Sunday and handed over the base to the Iraqi security forces.
The base, which is located 20 km north of Baghdad, was the site of frequent rocket attacks by Iran-backed militias who were targeting the US-led troops in recent past.
The coalition stated that the movement of coalition military personnel is part of a long-range plan which is being coordinated with the Iraqi Government and also stated that Camp Taji had held up to 2,000 coalition members in the past. Most of them had departed this summer.
The coalition troops which remain will depart in the coming days after they finalise the handing over of equipment to Iraqi security forces.
This was the eighth transfer of a coalition portion of an Iraqi base back to Iraqi forces.
The withdrawal comes days after President Donald Trump gave a reassurance about his promise to withdraw the few US troops which remain in Iraq.
The United States has had about 5,000 troops stationed in the country and coalition allies a further 2,500.
Iraq’s parliament had voted this year for the departure of foreign troops from Iraq and US, and other coalition troops have been leaving as part of a drawdown.
The vote came after a US airstrike on Baghdad airport killed Iranian general Qassem Soleimani and Iraqi militia leader Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis.
Anthony Morris covers stories related to politics and regional developments. His in-depth reporting about governance and reforms makes him stand out in regional journalism, with a deep analysis of political trends and their impact on Caribbean communities.
