Iraq

Washington and Baghdad open talks on ending mission of anti-IS group coalition in Iraq

Author: Editors Desk Source: France 24

January 27, 2024 at 11:17

© HO/ Iraqi Prime Minister's Press Office, AFP

Iraq and the United States on Saturday held a "first round" of talks on the future of American and other foreign troops in the country, with Baghdad expecting discussions to lead to a timeline for reducing their presence.

The office of Prime Minister Mohamed Shia al-Sudani issued a photograph of the head of government with top-ranking officials both of the Iraqi armed forces and of the international coalition set up by Washington to fight the Islamic State (IS) jihadist group.

Sudani "is hosting the start of the first round of bilateral dialogue between Iraq and the US to end the mission of the international coalition in Iraq," the office said in a statement.

"The talks and whatever progress made will determine the length of these negotiations," Sudani's foreign affairs adviser, Farhad Alaaldin, told AFP.

"Iraq is engaging the other countries taking part in the international coalition for bilateral agreements that serves the best interest of Iraq and the

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