US to cut troops in Iraq from 5,200 to 3,000, general says


Mina Aldroubi
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The US will reduce its troop presence in Iraq from 5,200 to 3,000 this month, a senior general said on Wednesday, affirming President Donald Trump's promise to withdrawal forces from the war-torn country.

It comes as Mr Trump is attempting to secure a second term by fulfilling a pledge that he made four years ago when he came to power to get the US out of “endless wars."

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 ISIS, which captured large swathes of the country in 2014.

"In consultation and coordination with the Government of Iraq and our coalition partners, the United States has decided to reduce our troop presence in Iraq from about 5,200 to 3,000 troops during the month of September," he said.

Remaining US troops would continue advising and assisting Iraqi security forces as they attempt to root out remnants of the terror group

It follows a meeting between Mr Trump and Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Al Kadhimi in August, in which the two sides discussed the status of the remaining forces in Iraq.

A timeline was not issued for the actual pullout.

American troops have come under several attacks in Iraq during the past year by suspected pro-Iranian militias.

Tensions between Tehran and Washington heightened after a US strike that killed top Iranian general Qassem Suleimani and Iraqi militia leader Abu Mahdi Al Muhandis in early January.

Since then, the Iraqi government has also faced pressure domestically to ask foreign troops to leave the country.

Parliament voted in January for the departure of forces, it was followed by a slow withdrawal of US and other coalition troops.

A US soldier advising Iraqi forces is seen in the city of Mosul on June 21, 2017, during the offensive by Iraqi troops to retake the last district still held by ISIS. AFP
A US soldier advising Iraqi forces is seen in the city of Mosul on June 21, 2017, during the offensive by Iraqi troops to retake the last district still held by ISIS. AFP

Washington has repeatedly said that it did not seek permanent bases or a permanent military presence in Iraq.

US forces were deployed in 2014 to assist Iraqi forces in defeating ISIS, as part of a global coalition fighting the extremists.

Officials in the coalition say Iraqi forces are now mostly able to handle the insurgents on their own.

Germany announced on Wednesday the extension of its mandate to remain in Iraq on anti-ISIS operations until January 31, 2022 but will reduce troop numbers in country from 700 to 500.

France has already withdrawn its troops and Britain has significantly downsized to just 100 personnel in recent months.

British, French and US special forces are expected to remain deployed in undisclosed locations around the country.

Still, attacks on US targets have continued. Late Tuesday, a bomb targeted a supply convoy heading to an Iraqi base where US troops are deployed, killing one member of the Iraqi security forces.

The US's withdrawal from Iraq will be followed by another announcement that Washington will reduce the number of its forces in Afghanistan in the coming days.

American forces are in Afghanistan to conduct counter-insurgency operations.

The US currently has 8,600 soldiers stationed in Afghanistan, in accordance with a bilateral agreement signed in February between Washington and the Taliban.

The decision to withdraw is seen as a step to promote inter-Afghan peace talks.

Trump previously mentioned in an interview with Axios that the White House aimed to reach 4,000 to 5,000 troops in Afghanistan before the US presidential election on November 3.

Under the US-Taliban deal, all foreign troops must leave the country by the spring of 2021, in exchange for security commitments from the militants.

Mr Trump suggested that he planned to bring down the number of American troops to nearly 4,000 in Afghanistan.

He promised that it would take place before the US presidential vote.

High profile Al Shabab attacks
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  • 2015: Four gunmen attack Garissa University College in northeastern Kenya and take over 700 students hostage, killing those who identified as Christian; 148 die and 79 more are injured.
  • 2016: An attack on a Kenyan military base in El Adde Somalia kills 180 soldiers.
  • 2017: A suicide truck bombing outside the Safari Hotel in Mogadishu kills 587 people and destroys several city blocks, making it the deadliest attack by the group and the worst in Somalia’s history.
MATCH INFO

Syria v Australia
2018 World Cup qualifying: Asia fourth round play-off first leg
Venue: Hang Jebat Stadium (Malacca, Malayisa)
Kick-off: Thursday, 4.30pm (UAE)
Watch: beIN Sports HD

* Second leg in Australia scheduled for October 10

TOURNAMENT INFO

Fixtures
Sunday January 5 - Oman v UAE
Monday January 6 - UAE v Namibia
Wednesday January 8 - Oman v Namibia
Thursday January 9 - Oman v UAE
Saturday January 11 - UAE v Namibia
Sunday January 12 – Oman v Namibia

UAE squad
Ahmed Raza (captain), Rohan Mustafa, Mohammed Usman, CP Rizwan, Waheed Ahmed, Zawar Farid, Darius D’Silva, Karthik Meiyappan, Jonathan Figy, Vriitya Aravind, Zahoor Khan, Junaid Siddique, Basil Hameed, Chirag Suri

Cricket World Cup League Two

Oman, UAE, Namibia

Al Amerat, Muscat

 

Results

Oman beat UAE by five wickets

UAE beat Namibia by eight runs

 

Fixtures

Wednesday January 8 –Oman v Namibia

Thursday January 9 – Oman v UAE

Saturday January 11 – UAE v Namibia

Sunday January 12 – Oman v Namibia

Dr Afridi's warning signs of digital addiction

Spending an excessive amount of time on the phone.

Neglecting personal, social, or academic responsibilities.

Losing interest in other activities or hobbies that were once enjoyed.

Having withdrawal symptoms like feeling anxious, restless, or upset when the technology is not available.

Experiencing sleep disturbances or changes in sleep patterns.

What are the guidelines?

Under 18 months: Avoid screen time altogether, except for video chatting with family.

Aged 18-24 months: If screens are introduced, it should be high-quality content watched with a caregiver to help the child understand what they are seeing.

Aged 2-5 years: Limit to one-hour per day of high-quality programming, with co-viewing whenever possible.

Aged 6-12 years: Set consistent limits on screen time to ensure it does not interfere with sleep, physical activity, or social interactions.

Teenagers: Encourage a balanced approach – screens should not replace sleep, exercise, or face-to-face socialisation.

Source: American Paediatric Association

Guns N’ Roses’s last gig before Abu Dhabi was in Hong Kong on November 21. We were there – and here’s what they played, and in what order. You were warned.

  • It’s So Easy
  • Mr Brownstone
  • Chinese Democracy
  • Welcome to the Jungle
  • Double Talkin’ Jive
  • Better
  • Estranged
  • Live and Let Die (Wings cover)
  • Slither (Velvet Revolver cover)
  • Rocket Queen
  • You Could Be Mine
  • Shadow of Your Love
  • Attitude (Misfits cover)
  • Civil War
  • Coma
  • Love Theme from The Godfather (movie cover)
  • Sweet Child O’ Mine
  • Wichita Lineman (Jimmy Webb cover)
  • Wish You Were Here (instrumental Pink Floyd cover)
  • November Rain
  • Black Hole Sun (Soundgarden cover)
  • Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door (Bob Dylan cover)
  • Nightrain

Encore:

  • Patience
  • Don’t Cry
  • The Seeker (The Who cover)
  • Paradise City
Notable groups (UAE time)

Jordan Spieth, Si Woo Kim, Henrik Stenson (12.47pm)

Justin Thomas, Justin Rose, Louis Oosthuizen (12.58pm)

Hideki Matsuyama, Brooks Koepka, Tommy Fleetwood (1.09pm)

Sergio Garcia, Jason Day, Zach Johnson (4.04pm)

Rickie Fowler, Paul Casey, Adam Scott (4.26pm)

Dustin Johnson, Charl Schwartzel, Rory McIlroy (5.48pm)