Pentagon: US will complete combat mission in Iraq by the end of the year and leave the country 
US will complete combat mission in Iraq by the end of 2021 and will leave the country in accordance with the agreements. This was announced by Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby in a written statement following the meeting of US Defense Minister Lloyd Austin with his Iraqi counterpart Juma Inad in Bahrain.
The press release says that the American general confirmed that the United States remains in Arab country at the invitation of the government to support the Iranian security forces and help in the fight against IS ( terrorist organization Islamic State, banned in Russia ).
According to him, Washington will continue to carry out the taken on itself in July 2021 commitments. In particular, Austin promised that by the end of the year there will be no American forces in Iraq performing combat missions.
According to Kirby, the next stage of the US military mission will consist of consulting, helping and sharing intelligence with the Iraqi military .
At the same time, Austin said earlier that the United States will retain a significant military presence in the Middle East region and can quickly increase it, if necessary. The head of the American military department stressed that the American side “insists on deepening multilateral partnerships” in the region, which are capable of confronting emerging problems.