BAGHDAD, Oct. 18 (UPI) -- The U.S. military will begin implementing a phased withdrawal of its troops from Iraq by drawing down troop numbers by a full brigade by the end of the year.
U.S. Army Gen. David Petraeus, the commander of multi-national forces in Iraq, laid out a plan to draw down the number of U.S. combat brigades from 20 to 15 by next summer.
The 1st Calvary, 3rd Brigade Combat team operating in Diyala province will leave Iraq in December and not be replaced, The Washington Post reported.
A neighboring unit will expand its current operations into Diyala province after the 1st Calvary brigade withdraws.
U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Benjamin R. Mixon said the 1st Calvary brigade would eventually be replaced, however, noting the drawdown won't affect the mission in the volatile Diyala province.
“We definitely are not going to let up on the enemy anytime soon by having less combat power,” Mixon told the Post.
The Pentagon said other units would expand or reassess their missions in Iraq to compensate for any breaches caused by troop drawdowns.
