Islam Times - Iraq PM: No US Combat Troops to Remain in Iraq

Islam Times - US combat troops will not remain in Iraq after the fight against Daesh is over, Iraq's Prime Minister said in a statement after talks between Iraq and the US on maintaining American forces in the country.

However, the US emphasized that discussions were in early stages and that "nothing had been finalized."

The Iraqi President emphasized that once Daesh is defeated, only US advisers involved in training Iraq's security forces to maintain "full readiness" for any "future security challenges," will remain.

Currently, US combat forces are involved in operations with Iraqi forces on and beyond the front lines despite Iraq’s claims that they are only acting as advisers, apparently because parliamentary approval for be required for their involvement.

Hence, remaining forces would continue to be designated as advisers for the same reason.

There are close to 7,000 U.S. troops in Iraq with some of them on temporary duty or under specific personnel rules. In 2007 there were as much as 170,000 S troops in the country.

Iraqi forces are battling to retake the last remaining Mosul neighborhoods held by Daesh in the western part and Iraqi and US coalition officials have warned that Daesh may continue their insurgence even if Mosul falls.