Iraq does not need and will not need foreign troops on its territory and assures that the US forces currently deployed in the country are there in an advisory capacity, a spokesman for the Iraqi Defense Ministry told Sputnik on Thursday
BAGHDAD (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 17th January, 2019) Iraq does not need and will not need foreign troops on its territory and assures that the US forces currently deployed in the country are there in an advisory capacity, a spokesman for the Iraqi Defense Ministry told Sputnik on Thursday.
"Washington does not have any bases in Iraq. There is not even a single US base under US command in Iraq, in the first place. Secondly, all those present are advisers from the international coalition, there is coaching, plans for army training, logistical support, air force efforts," Maj. Gen. Tahsin Khafaji said.
He stressed that when Iraq was fighting to defeat the Islamic State terrorist group (IS, outlawed in Russia), it led ground actions on its own, with foreign support consisting only of advising, arming and air operations.
"I believe that we have succeeded as a team in working with the international coalition and all friendly and fraternal countries to defeat terrorism ... I confirm that there were no and there will be no foreign military forces on our borders and in our county," Khafaji noted.
In December 2017, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider Abadi announced a victory over the IS jihadists after over three years of fighting, but said that local security and law enforcement services would continue eliminating IS sleeper cells.
In October 2018, media reported, citing the Pentagon, that the number of the US servicemen in Iraq stood at around 5,000.
