Up to 50,000 US troops to stay in Iraq after end of combat operations

The United States expects to maintain a force of between 35,000 and 50,000 in Iraq after August 2010 to serve in an advisory and training role for the Iraqi Security Forces (IqSF), who are taking an ever-greater role in ensuring the country's security and building on hard-won gains, said General Ray Odierno, Commanding General Multi-National Force - Iraq. "President [Barack] Obama announced that, at the end of August 2010, we will end combat operations and change our mission to one of an advisory and training role," Gen Odierno told Pentagon reporters on 8 May

[first posted to http://jdw.janes.com - 14 May 2009]