Top Iraqi official says no US combat troops needed

A top Iraqi official has reiterated that his country doesn’t need US combat troops on its soil anymore. National security advisor, Qasim al-Araji said Baghdad has communicated its stance over the issue to Washington. The comment came ahead of a meeting between senior Iraqi and American officials in Washington on Monday where they are expected to issue a statement on the possible exit of US combat troops from Iraq by the end of the year. Iraq’s Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi and Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein have also underlined that Washington needs to pull out its forces from the Arab country. In January 2020, Iraq’s parliament issued a resolution demanding the expulsion of American forces. That followed the US assassination of top Iranian General, Qassem Soleimani and Iraqi commander Abu Mehdi al-Muhandis.