No Pullout, But US Military Eyes an End in Iraq

The United States and Iraq will start talks to end the U.S.-led international military coalition in Iraq and transition to a bilateral partnership, continuing a process that has been stalled by the Israel-Hamas war.

Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin issued a statement Thursday saying the talks would begin “in the coming days.” Last August, Iraq and the U.S. committed to the talks, which Austin said would allow a relationship between the two countries to build on the success of Iraq’s campaign known as Defeat Islamic…