Defense Secretary Makes Unannounced Visit to Iraq

Twenty-years after the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq began, Lloyd Austin, Secretary of Defense made an unannounced trip to Baghdad on February 7, to meet with Mohammed Shia al-Sudani.

Austin will be on a multiday Middle East tour, during which time he will be meeting with leaders from countries that have allied themselves with the United States.

Austin and al-Sudani met to discuss the future U.S. troops in Iraq.

The country is home to 2,500 U.S. soldiers.

“I just concluded a productive meeting with Prime Minister Sudani and Minister of Defense Abbasi. This was just the latest high-level contact between our governments,” Austin addressed a Baghdad group of journalists. “And all of these engagements underscore the U.S. commitment to expanding our partnership with the people and the government of Iraq. We’re deeply committed to ensuring that the Iraqi people can live in peace and dignity, with safety and security and with economic opportunity for all.”

Austin mentioned Daesh in his comments, the terrorist group that in 2014—not long after the U.S. pulled most its forces from Iraq—commenced an offensive that eventually saw the organization control large areas of the country.

“You know, just a few years ago, Daesh was marching across Iraq, terrorizing its citizens and threatening the stability of the entire region,” Austin. “In response, the United States convened the global coalition of 80 countries, and that coalition responded to the request of the sovereign government of Iraq to work alongside them to defeat this ruthless terrorist enemy.”

Austin led an American Army Infantry Force on the Ground during the 2003 invasion. After the U.S. declared that they had achieved their invasion goals, Austin led and oversaw the U.S. withdrawal troops from Iraq.

Early December 2021, the United States stated that their combat mission in Iraq was over. However, it said that its troops would continue to be in the country.

Maj. General John Brennan, commenting about the U.S. military’s continued presence in Iraq at the time, said: “as we complete our combat role, we will remain here to advise, assist, and enable the ISF [Iraq Security Forces], at the invitation of Republic of Iraq.”

The Coalition force, mainly U.S. soldiers, and the United Kingdom contributing the majority of the support, entered Iraq after former President George Bush claimed that Saddam Hussein’s regime was equipped with weapons of mass destruction.

Hussein has been given an ultimatum to either resign or be subject to military action. Saddam refused to resign and instructed his forces to fight an invasion.

The United States and its allies defeated Saddam’s forces within three weeks. However, there were a lot of casualties and guerilla attacks on the coalition forces. American soldiers also continued to be in heavy combat, and suffered death and serious injury.

In December 2013, Saddam Hussein was captured by the U.S. troops and handed over to an Iraqi government. He was charged with crimes against humanity. His sentence was carried out the following morning, Dec. 30, 2006: he was sentenced to death via hanging.