Technical committee to be formed on US-Iraq dialogue

BAGHDAD, Iraq

A technical committee will be established to implement the decisions made in strategic dialogue between Iraq and the US, an Iraqi official announced on Wednesday, after a third round of strategic talks.

In a statement, Iraqi military spokesman Yahya Rasool said Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi has ordered the formation of the committee to approve “mechanisms and timings” related to the withdrawal of US combat troops in Iraq.

The delegations were led by Fuad Hussein and Antony J. Blinken, the foreign ministers of Iraq and the US, respectively.

According to a joint statement, discussions in the virtual talks covered security and counterterrorism, economics and energy and the environment, political issues, and cultural relations.

"The parties confirmed that the mission of U.S. and Coalition forces has now transitioned to one focused on training and advisory tasks, thereby allowing for the redeployment of any remaining combat forces from Iraq, with the timing to be established in upcoming technical talks," it said.

Separately, Kadhimi said on Twitter that the decisions would ensure that life in Iraq returns to normal. He added that dialogue is the peaceful way to solve the crises, and that the Iraqi people deserve to live in peace and security.

Calls for a withdrawal of US troops grew louder after a Washington-directed airstrike killed Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani in Baghdad last year.

*Writing by Dilan Pamuk in Ankara