WASHINGTON, Aug. 19 (UPI) -- Iraq has agreed to allow non-combat U.S. forces to remain in the country beyond the end of 2011, U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said Friday.
All U.S. forces had been scheduled to leave Iraq by Dec. 31 and Panetta said the drawdown is progressing on schedule. When he visited Iraq six weeks ago, Panetta urged Iraqi authorities to make a decision soon on what kind of relationship they want with the U.S. military, beginning next year.