The US will reduce its presence in Iraq from 5,200 to 3,000 troops this month, Marine General Frank McKenzie, the head of US Central Command, said during a visit to Iraq.

“We are continuing to expand on our partner capacity programs that enable Iraqi forces and allow us to reduce our footprint in Iraq,” he said.

The US has around 5,200 troops that were deployed in Iraq to fight the Islamic State militant group.

The US and Iraq in June affirmed their commitment to the reduction of US troops in the country in coming months.