Home » Archives » "US Troops Shifting Presence in Iraq"

US Troops Shifting Presence in Iraq

Jun-15-2009 » Filed Under: Iraq News

The Wall Street Journal has an interesting article regarding the movement of US troops out of most urban areas in Iraq. The shift is one of the conditions outlined in the security agreement signed by the US and Iraq at the beginning of the year.

BAGHDAD -- The top U.S. commander in Iraq, Gen. Ray Odierno, said Monday that American combat troops are on track to leave Iraqi cities by the end of the month as scheduled, and he said the U.S. had closed or handed over 142 former American installations to the Iraqi government so far.

Questions have lingered about the status of combat troops in still-volatile areas, like Mosul in the north of the country. But Gen. Odierno said American combat forces would pull back there too, thanks to improved security conditions across the country.

A small number of support troops will remain behind in some urban areas, as expected, he said. He said American forces will remain at 320 locations after a June 30 deadline for pulling U.S. combat troops out of Iraqi cities.


Advertisements