U.S.-led troops end Iraq combat mission, as planned - military officials

FILE PHOTO: Iraq's National Security Advisor Qasim al-Araji wearing a protective mask speaks after he took up the post from the former security advisor Falih al-Fayyadh, during a meeting with employees of the advisers in Baghdad, Iraq July 14, 2020. REUTERS/Thaier al-Sudani

BAGHDAD (Reuters) -U.S.-led forces have ended their combat mission in Iraq, a move that transfers all remaining troops into a training and advising role, Iraqi military commanders and officials from the coalition led by the United States said on Thursday.

Western security officials and diplomats say privately that this will make little difference to the number of troops stationed in the country - currently more than 2,000 - since those forces have had limited involvement in any combat operations for the last couple of years.