Iraq asking US forces to stay - this is why

A senior Iraqi source speaking to the Lebanese media outlet al-Akhbar today (Wednesday) said that Iraq is working to try and get US Army forces to remain in the country, due to recent events in Syria, according to Kann reporter Roi Kais.

Earlier this year, Iraqi Prime Minister Shia al-Sudani and other high-ranking Iraqi and US forces were preparing to negotiate the eventual departure of US forces from the country, with a clear timeline.

US forces had exited Iraq before but found themselves forced to reenter to assist anti-ISIS forces following the rise of the terrorist group in 2014. The Pentagon says there are about 2,500 soldiers presently in the country, according to al-Jazeera.

According to previous reporting by Kais, the decision of pro-Iranian Iraqi militias to cease attacking Israel, unless the ceasefire in Lebanon collapses, was due in part to heavy pressure from the Iraqi government.