US to withdraw 3,500 troops from Iraq
'Pakistan Times' Wire Service

WASHINGTON: The US military said on Tuesday it will shortly withdraw 3,500 soldiers who were deployed in Iraq as part of the controversial "surge" in February last year.

Soldiers from the 3rd Infantry Division will return to their base in Fort Benning in Georgia "in the next several weeks," the military said in a statement.

The move is in line with a US plan to complete a withdrawal of the 30,000 "surge" troops deployed to curb an increase in sectarian violence in Iraq.

"The continued draw down of surge brigades demonstrates continued progress in Iraq," US commander Brigadier General Dan Allyn said in the statement.

"After July, commanders will assess our security posture for about 45 days and determine future force requirements." ●