U.S. to Cut Its Force in Iraq to About 3,000 Troops, Commander Says

The Trump administration will cut the number of U.S. troops in Iraq to about 3,000 this month, a top military commander said in the country on Wednesday, a reduction from about 5,200 there now. The move is part of President Trump’s effort to reduce the American military footprint in Iraq and Afghanistan before Election Day on Nov. 3, officials have said. The top U.S. commander in the Middle East, Gen. Frank McKenzie, said improvements in Iraq’s security forces allowed the U.S. to downsize. The Wall Street Journal reported last month that the U.S. was planning to withdraw about a third of its force from Iraq. The cut announced by Gen. McKenzie represents more than a third of the U.S. force and is one of the steepest such cuts since President Obama withdrew forces from Iraq, leaving about 1,000 U.S. personnel, in 2011. “In recognition of the great progress the […]

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