Pentagon waiting out coronavirus to invite allies back to Iraq
The US commander of Operation Inherent Resolve hopes allied forces will return to Iraq once the COVID-19 crisis subsides.
The American commander of the international coalition against the Islamic State says he is planning to invite a number of US allies back to Iraq once risk from the coronavirus pandemic begins to subside.
“As I see the health conditions presenting an opportunity, I’ll notify those nations … that in 60 days, I’d like them to return,” Army Lt. Gen. Pat White said today.
Some 7,500 international coalition troops were in Iraq until earlier this year. Americans made up about 5,000 of the coalition’s total forces, which do not include NATO’s much smaller stabilization and training mission in Iraq.
The UK withdrew some of its roughly 400 coalition personnel from Iraq in March. Canada also pulled some of its forces, while France, Spain, Portugal, the Czech Republic, the Netherlands and New Zealand have all withdrawn their service members from the country.
