Iraq's Sudani says some US military advisers will stay on

BAGHDAD,— Iraq’s Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani said on Monday that a small group of U.S. military advisers will stay in Iraq to coordinate operations with American forces in Syria targeting Islamic State remnants.

The decision marks a limited exception to the broader agreement between Washington and Baghdad to end the mission of the U.S.-led coalition in Iraq by September.

That coalition had been in place for more than a decade to help defeat the militant organization.

Speaking to journalists in Baghdad, al-Sudani said that U.S. advisers are currently located at Ain al-Asad air base in Iraq’s western region, at a base near Baghdad International Airport, and at al-Harir base in the north.

He said the original plan was for all U.S. forces to leave Ain al-Asad by September, but developments in neighboring Syria made it necessary to retain a small group of about 250 to 350 advisers and security specialists. Their role will include intelligence sharing and coordination with U.S. forces stationed at al-Tanf base in Syria.

According to the prime minister, troop numbers and operations at other bases in Iraq are steadily being reduced.

Concerns about a possible Islamic State revival have grown since the fall of Syrian President Bashar Assad’s government during a rebel advance last December.

Iraqi officials fear the instability could allow militants to regroup and gain access to weapons left behind.

Al-Sudani said the extremist group “no longer poses a major internal threat” in Iraq, but the government remains alert to cross-border risks.

He stressed that Iraq aims to maintain neutrality in regional disputes and will not be drawn into power struggles between other nations. “Iraq comes first,” he said. “We will not serve as a proxy or a battlefield.”

Al-Sudani also called for renewed dialogue between Washington and Tehran, saying that previous U.S. sanctions and pressure on Iran had not brought stability. “Iran must be dealt with through diplomacy and respect,” he told reporters.

Relations between Baghdad and Washington have occasionally been strained over the activities of Iran-backed armed groups.

The Shiite Popular Mobilization Forces (Hashd al-Shaabi), which helped defeat Islamic State, were reportedly placed under Iraqi military command in 2016 but still operate independently in many areas.

Lawmakers are now debating legislation to clarify their legal status within the armed forces, a proposal opposed by U.S. officials.

The prime minister said his government promotes disarmament and national dialogue to bring armed factions into political life.

Iraq will hold parliamentary elections next month, where groups that have transitioned into political parties are eligible to compete, he added.

(With files from AP)