In the upcoming weeks, the US and Iraq will discuss the possibility of a future military presence, according to a Pentagon official.

The U.S. and Iraq officials are set to continue discussions on the future of U.S. military presence in Iraq in the upcoming weeks, according to a U.S. official. The Defense Department is expected to make an announcement about the resumed talks later this week, the official added.

Since October 17, more than 60 attacks have been launched against the 2,500 U.S. troops stationed in Iraq for the Defeat ISIS mission by Iranian proxy groups. In response, the U.S. has conducted airstrikes targeting these groups, including two Kataib Hezbollah headquarters buildings and an intelligence facility on Tuesday, as stated by a U.S. defense official.

The U.S. drone strike on January 4th targeted and killed Mushtaq Jawad Kazim al Jawari, a leader of Iranian-proxy group Harakat al Nujaba who was involved in planning and carrying out attacks against U.S. service members in Iraq. This strike has put pressure on the government of Iraq to question the U.S. presence in the region.

The withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq was prompted by a specific strike that occurred on January 4th, leading Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ Al-Sudani to make the call for withdrawal the following day.

Al-Sudani stated that the government is committed to ending the presence and will not waver from its national sovereignty over land, sky, and waters in Iraq. A tripartite committee has been formed to determine arrangements to complete this process. A date for the beginning of the dialogue has not yet been set.

In a Defense Department briefing on January 4th, Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder stated that the Pentagon's focus remains on defeating ISIS, but they will not hesitate to protect their forces if threatened.

Despite the Iraqi prime minister's words, the Pentagon has not received any requests to withdraw from the region, according to multiple defense officials speaking to Planet Chronicle.

Ryder stated that he is not aware of any plans to withdraw U.S. troops from Iraq and that the focus remains on the Defeat ISIS mission under CJTF-OIR while advising and assisting the Iraqis. He emphasized that the U.S. is in Iraq at the invitation of the Iraqi government.

The talks between the U.S. and Iraq, originally scheduled in August, may have a different outcome than anticipated due to the Hamas invasion of Israel and subsequent attacks on U.S. forces in Iraq.

In August 2023, the U.S. and Iraq agreed to establish a "Higher Military Commission" or HMC for talks, as stated in a Defense Department press release from that time. The purpose of the HMC was to discuss a future process for the Coalition's military mission in Iraq, separate from the JSCD, and inclusive of the Coalition. The factors that would guide the evolution of the military mission on a timeline included the threat from ISIS, operational and environmental requirements, and ISF capability levels.

The U.S. official stated that the talks will take place in the form of a working group, with both defense and military officials from the Pentagon participating.