U.S. and Iraq Begin Talks on Future of ISIS War and U.S. Troop Presence

The discussions come amid tensions over U.S. strikes on Iranian-backed militias and concerns about the resurgence of ISIS.

US and Iraq have begun talks on the future of the ISIS war and the presence of US troops in Iraq, with the establishment of the U.S.-Iraq Higher Military Commission.
Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani has condemned U.S. strikes in his country, including recent ones against Iranian-backed militia groups.
The talks will focus on transitioning to a new phase in the war against ISIS, considering factors such as existing threats and Iraqi security force capabilities.
The U.S. currently has about 2,500 troops in Iraq to train and assist allied fighters in the war against ISIS.
Iranian-backed militias in Iraq and Syria have carried out more than 150 attacks on U.S. forces, leading to U.S. retaliatory airstrikes.