White House spokesman John Kirby announced on Thursday that negotiations are ongoing with the Iraqi government regarding the presence of American forces in the country, stressing Washington’s respect for Iraq’s sovereignty and the military presence of the United States, which was at the invitation of the Iraqi government.
Kirby said in press statements, “We have good relations with Iraq and the United States respects its territorial sovereignty, and the American military presence in this country was at the invitation of the Iraqi government.”
He added, “The United States is holding talks with Iraq regarding the American military situation in the country.”
The US-led international coalition to fight ISIS confirmed on Thursday its aspiration to continue military talks with the Iraqi side next Sunday, to discuss the transitional phase of its mission in the country.
The commander of Operation Inherent Resolve in the international coalition, Major General J.B. Fowl, said in a statement, “The Supreme Military Committee with the Iraqi Armed Forces will resume its work in Baghdad on Sunday, February 11, 2024.”
He added, “We look forward to continuing military talks with our Iraqi partners, assessing the progress we have made in our joint mission to defeat ISIS, as well as discussing the future transition phase of our mission.”
The spokesman for the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Major General Yahya Rasool, announced earlier today that the Supreme Bilateral Military Technical Committee between Iraq and the United States of America will resume its work next Sunday, to discuss and schedule the end of the international coalition’s mission in Iraq.
