General says US troops to remain in Iraq, warns of increased attacks from Iran-backed militias

US troops will remain in Iraq for the foreseeable future, Marine Gen. Frank McKenzie, the top US commander for the Middle East, has said.

The top US commander for the Middle East has said the United States will keep the current 2,500 troops in Iraq for the foreseeable future, and he warned that he expects increasing attacks on US and Iraqi personnel by Iranian-backed militias determined to get American forces out.

Marine Gen. Frank McKenzie said in an interview with The Associated Press at the Pentagon that despite the shift by US forces to a non-combat role in Iraq, they will still provide air support and other military aid for Iraq’s fight against the Islamic State.