National Security

Esper: Troops will be coming home and will not stay in Iraq

By Russ Read

Published October 22, 2019 9:14pm ET

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Esper: Troops will be coming home and will not stay in Iraq — In this picture taken on Thursday, March 29, 2018, U.S. troop's humvee passes vehicles of fighters from the U.S-backed Syrian Manbij Military Council on a road leading to the tense front line with Turkish-backed fighters, at Halawanji village, north of Manbij town, Syria. The front line has grown more tense in recent days as Turkey threatens to advance on the town to clear it of the U.S-backed fighters. U.S troops have increased their patrols in the area, local commanders say, to prevent an outbreak of fighting and to prevent Turkey from advancing on Manbij. | (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)

United States troops exiting Syria through Iraq will eventually make their way home, according to the Pentagon.

Secretary of Defense Mark Esper provided the update on Tuesday after a statement from the Iraqi military that said U.S. troops do not have permission to stay in the country. Esper initially said the troops would relocate to western Iraq in order to continue operations against the Islamic State.

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Iraq Syria