Biden Announces "New Phase" In Iraq Relations, End Of "Combat Operations"

With the Iraqi PM at his side, Joe Biden said that the US is "committed to our security cooperation" and will "to continue to train, to assist, to help, to deal with ISIS as it arises."

President Joe Biden opened talks with Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhemi on Monday saying relations were in a "new phase" that would include the end of US combat operations in the country. With Kadhemi at his side in the White House, Biden said that the US is "committed to our security cooperation" and will "to continue to train, to assist, to help, to deal with ISIS as it arises." "But we're not going to be, at the end of the year, in a combat mission," he said. Biden also stressed US support for elections in October in Iraq, saying Washington is working closely with Baghdad, the Gulf Cooperation Council and the United Nations to ensure the elections are fair.