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THOUSANDS of US troops are set to be deployed to Iraq for a nine-month tour of duty, the Pentagon said on Monday, despite an agreement by Washington to “draw down” its presence in the country.
About 2,000 soldiers from the Fourth Infantry Division are set to become the primary force in Iraq when they replace the 256th Infantry Brigade Combat Team of the Louisiana Army National Guard.
The Pentagon insists the unit’s deployment is “part of a normal rotation of units” to support the US-led task force in the fight against Isis.
US troops will assist, train and advise local forces while providing air defence against attacks, according to military sources.
Washington previously declared its combat mission in Iraq over and said it would be withdrawing its forces from the country.
But the US has refused to abide by the democratic decision of the Iraqi parliament, which voted unanimously for it to end to its presence in the country following its drone assassination of visiting Iranian General Qasem Soleimani in January 2020.