Briefly

UNITED STATES

Further troop cuts from Iraq flagged

The United States is reducing its troop presence in Iraq this month from 5,200 to 3,000, the top US commander for the Middle East said on Wednesday, as President Donald Trump tries to make good on his campaign promise to get the country out of "endless wars." During a visit to Iraq, Marine General Frank McKenzie, the commander of US Central Command, said the reduction in Iraq reflects Washington's confidence in the ability of US-trained Iraqi security forces to handle the militant threat from the Islamic State group, which entered Iraq from Syria in 2014. Late on Tuesday, a senior administration official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told reporters aboard Air Force One that such an announcement was coming and that an announcement on the withdrawal of additional troops from Afghanistan also could be expected in coming days.