Biden is expected to seal the agreement after discussions with Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi. This is Biden’s first meeting with Kadhimi after taking the office. 

US will no longer be part of the combat, rather it will stick to advisory and training roles by the end of the year, a White House official told The Associated Press (AP).

Iraqi security forces are “battle-tested” and have proved themselves “capable” of protecting their country. Still, the Biden administration recognizes that IS remains a considerable threat, the official told AP News.

In April, US and Iraq had agreed that the US will shift to advisory roles. But the date was settled. The new announcement comes less than three months before the parliamentary elections.

US started the war in Iraq in 2003 during George Bush’s presidency. In 2011, Barack Obama withdrew all the troops from the country, but in 2014, US troops were sent again when ISIS took over large portions of western and northern Iraq.