Troop Reduction Leaves Only 39,000 in Iraq

The United States has now closed the second of its three regional military headquarters in Iraq continuing its drawdown of forces. Just 39,000 American troops remain in Iraq, The Washington Post reported.

At its peak in 2008, the United States had 165,000 military personnel in Iraq on 505 bases. With the closing of Contingency Operating Base Speicher 100 miles north of Baghdad, the United States maintains just 18 bases, with the rest either closed or turned over to Iraq. About 520 American troops depart Iraq each day, the Post reported.

The U.S. security agreement with Iraq expires in 10 weeks. Iraqi government officials have requested that 5,000 or more U.S. military trainers remain in the country, the Post reported. However, supporters of anti-American Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr have promised disruptions should forces remain in 2012.