Baghdad, Washington agree to gradually reduce US-led coalition's advisers in Iraq

By Abdel-Jabbar Abu Ras

ISTANBUL (AA) - The Iraqi government said Thursday it agreed with the US on a timetable to reduce the number of military advisers to the US-led anti-Daesh terror group on Iraqi territory.

The Foreign Ministry announced in a statement, cited by the Iraqi official news agency, INA, the success of negotiations that have been taking place since August where both agreed on a clear timetable that specifies the duration of the presence of the coalition's advisers.

The statement noted that both agreed "to begin the deliberate gradual reduction of its advisers on Iraqi soil and end the military mission of the coalition against ISIS (Daesh terror group)."

The US is yet to comment on the announcement.

The announcement comes amid repeated calls from Iraqi authorities for the US to withdraw troops in the wake of strikes inside Iraq against Iran-backed groups accused of attacking American personnel.

*Writing by Ahmed Asmar​​​​​​​