Acting Pentagon chief in Iraq to discuss troops presence

Baghdad: Acting Pentagon chief Patrick Shanahan was on a surprise visit to Iraqi capital on Tuesday to hold talks with local leaders in the backdrop of President Donald Trump announcement of withdrawal of US troops from neighbouring Syria and keeping some in Iraq to keep an eye on Iran.

According to reports,  Shanahan flew in from Afghanistan on an unannounced  visit to discuss the continued troops presence in Iraq.

“Shanahan is keen to reassure Iraqi leaders after President Donald Trump angered many by saying he wanted to keep troops at the Al-Asad airbase, northwest of Baghdad, to keep an eye on Iran”, AFP reported.