In this May 7, 2020, file photo, Mustafa al-Kahdimi, then the Iraqi Prime Minister-designate speaks to members of the Iraqi parliament in Baghdad, Iraq. (IRAQI PARLIAMENT MEDIA OFFICE VIA AP)

WASHINGTON / CAIRO - The United States will continue reducing its military presence in Iraq over the coming months, said a joint statement issued by the United States and Iraq on Thursday.

The two countries will also discuss the status of remaining forces in the months ahead, according to the statement following the US-Iraq Strategic Dialogue held virtually on Thursday.

Iraq’s parliament had voted earlier this year for the departure of foreign troops from Iraq, and US and other coalition troops have been leaving as part of a drawdown.

Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi said the US-Iraq Strategic Dialogue recognized the Iraqi parliament’s decision on the US withdrawal, state news agency INA reported with no further details.

The Iraq-US strategic dialogue recognised the Iraqi parliament’s decision on the US withdrawal

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It was unclear whether that would include military trainers which most parties, including some backed by regional heavyweight Iran, have said would be acceptable to remain in Iraq, Reuters reported.

In the joint statement, Washington said it would continue reducing forces and discuss with the Iraqi government the status of the remaining forces, stressing it does not seek permanent bases or a permanent military presence in Iraq.

The United States also discussed providing economic advisors to work directly with the Iraqi government to help advance international support for Iraq’s reform efforts, in light of the consequences of coronavirus pandemic and the decline in oil prices, the joint statement added.

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US Assistant Secretary of Near Eastern Affairs David Schenker, who participated in the dialogue, told reporters earlier that Washington was considering a possible force reduction but emphasized that there was no discussion of the timeline for it.

According to the statement, the Iraqi government is committed to protecting the military personnel of the international coalition and the Iraqi facilities hosting them.

US-Iraq relations have been under strain since early January, when US military killed Qassem Soleimani, former commander of the Quds Force of Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps, and Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, deputy chief of Iraq's paramilitary Hashd Shaabi forces, in an airstrike near the Baghdad airport.

The US airstrike prompted the Iraqi parliament on Jan 5 to pass a resolution requiring the government to end the presence of foreign forces in Iraq.

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The military bases housing US troops across Iraq and other US facilities have been frequently targeted by mortar and rocket attacks in recent months.

More than 5,000 US troops have been deployed in Iraq to support the Iraqi forces in the battles against the Islamic State militants, mainly providing training and advice to the Iraqi forces. 

With Reuters inputs