BAGHDAD, March 19 (UPI) -- A senior U.S. Army commander says the number of U.S. troops stationed in Iraq could decrease by tens of thousands in coming months.
Lt. Gen. Charles Jacoby, who recently returned from Iraq, said Thursday by the end of this summer, the number of U.S. military personnel in Iraq could drop from nearly 95,000 to 50,000, The Seattle Times reported.
"We're not there yet, but you can see it on the horizon," said Jacoby, who warned such cuts would likely not lessen the intensity of combat deployments in the short term.
Jacoby also estimated that in two years, U.S. troops' 12-month combat deployments could begin decreasing in length.
There may also be an effort to allow U.S. soldiers at least a two-year break between overseas missions, the military official added.
The Times said Jacoby's comments Thursday came on the seventh anniversary of the U.S. bombing of Baghdad.
