As US hints at plans to reduce troops, Iraqi MPs divided on what comes next
US troops in Iraq are unlikely to leave the country en masse due to US long-term plans to stay, and the sharp disagreement between Iraqi politicians regarding the presence of foreign forces in the country continues apace.
The chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Joseph Dunford, testifying before Congress on March 14, indicated that the United States is considering reducing the number of US troops in Iraq, p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Helvetica; color: #323333; -webkit-text-stroke: #323333; background-color: #07f900} span.s1 {font-kerning: none} a move that would be in coordination with the Iraqi government, depending on the level of threat posed by a resurgence from the remnants of Islamic State (IS).
Military commanders of the Iraqi army have been clear in their view regarding the support received from the coalition forces.
In a phone call March 18 between US Vice President Mike Pence and Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi, who also serves as commander in chief of his country's armed forces, the Iraqi leader requested that Washington continue supporting Iraq in combating IS.
Abdul Mahdi also met with a US congressional delegation, during which he repeated his request that the United States continue to help Iraq in removing IS from the country.
