Last large U.S. combat brigade left Iraq

PanARMENIAN.Net - Two weeks ahead of a schedule set by President Barack Obama, the last large U.S. combat brigade has left Iraq. Pentagon officials stress that some American combat forces remain in the country ahead of an August 31st date to formally transition the U.S. presence to an advisory and training operation.

News agencies and television networks - some with reporters embedded with departing troops - confirmed the withdrawal of the 4th Stryker Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division, which crossed into Kuwait at the Khabari border crossing, VOA News reported.

A Pentagon spokesman said that some U.S. combat forces remained in Iraq, and that combat operations are still scheduled to formally end at the end of the month. Officials have also emphasized that U.S. forces remaining after August 31st will still be capable of responding to military threats.

Under a bilateral agreement with Iraq's government, all U.S. fighting troops must be out of the country by the end of 2011. The 50,000 that remain will be engaged in training Iraqi forces, counter-terrorism operations, and protecting U.S. diplomatic and other personnel.