A coalition of US-led militias has withdrawn from an Iraqi military base as part of a plan to hand over control of the region to the Iraqi government.
Reuters reported Sunday that coalition troops had left the Taji military base, located about 120 miles north of Baghdad, while a few remained behind to finalize the transfer of some equipment to Iraqi security forces.
“The movement of coalition military personnel is part of a long-range plan coordinated with the Iraqi government,” coalition forces said in a statement to Reuters.
While the US and other countries have been working to combat extremists joining ISIS following the group’s rise and territorial gains in 2014, Taji’s forces have been battling Iranian-backed militias in recent months. and region, according to Reuters.
The US has launched airstrikes and other attacks targeting those militias, including one airstrike at Baghdad airport that killed a top Iranian general, Qassem Soleimani, earlier this year.
Soleimani’s death was condemned by Iran but touted by the Trump administration as eliminating a threat to U.S. troops in the region.
President Trump
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