BAGHDAD: Baghdad and Washing­ton have agreed to set up a committee to start talks on the future of the US-led military coalition in Iraq with the aim of setting a timetable for a phased withdrawal of troops and the coalition’s end, Iraq’s foreign ministry said.

The United States has 2,500 troops in Iraq, advising and assisting local forces to prevent a resurgence of the militant Islamic State group, which in 2014 seized large parts of Iraq and Syria before being defeated. Hundreds of troops from mostly European countries are also part of the coalition.

Iraq’s government says IS is defeated and the coalition’s job is over, but it is keen to explore establishing bilateral relations with coalition members, including military cooperation in training and equipment.

Iraq also says the coalition’s presence has become a magnet for instability amid near-daily attacks by Iran-backed militias on bases housing the forces and US retaliatory strikes, escalating since the Israeli aggression in Gaza.

The talks are set to take place between military officials to asses the operational requirements and efficacy of Iraqi security forces and the threats they face, based on which both sides will determine how quickly the coalition is phased out and how future bilateral relations will look.

US and Iraqi officials say the process is expected to take many months if not longer, with the outcome unclear and no withdrawal of US forces imminent.

Washington fears that a fast withdrawal may create a security vacuum that could be filled by arch-rival Iran or IS, which maintains sleeper cells in desert areas and has continued low-level attacks despite holding no territory.

In a statement, US Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin confirmed meetings “in the coming days” to discuss the “transition” of the coalition based on the outcomes of the Joint Security Cooperation Dialogue held between the two countries in August.

The meetings would “determine how the Coalition’s military mission will evolve on a timeline” based on factors including the threat posed by IS, “operational and environmental requirements,” and the capability levels of Iraq’s security forces, the statement said.

Published in Dawn, January 26th, 2024