The United States will meet a June 30 deadline to withdraw combat forces from all Iraqi urban areas, including the flashpoint northern city of Mosul, the US ambassador to Baghdad said Thursday.
"We signed that (security) agreement and we will absolutely comply fully with it," Ambassador Christopher Hill told reporters when asked about whether a pullout from the northern city would happen on time.
He was referring to the Status of Forces Agreement, signed between Baghdad and Washington last year, which stipulates that US troops must leave major urban areas across the country by the end of the month.
"And that means pulling all combat forces out of the … cities," Hill said during a visit to Washington for consultations with government officials.
General Ray Odierno, commander of US forces in Iraq, said Monday he felt "much more comfortable now" about Mosul, apparently ruling out repeated suggestions US forces could stay on in the city.
Alongside Baghdad, Mosul is seen as Iraq's most violent.
"What's important to understand is that in most cities in Iraq, our combat forces are already out of the cities. So this is not some brand-new model that we're not sure how it's going to work," Hill said.
"But to some extent, we've left the best for last — that is, Baghdad and Mosul," said the US ambassador who recalled observing "a lot of tension" in Mosul during a visit a few weeks ago.
He added that the Kurd, Sunni Muslim Arab and Christian populations living there all have "concerns about what life will be like in the future" but "the way forward" is through political dialogue.
Around the country, he added, Iraqis are enjoying a decline in violence.
"If you look at overall levels of violence in Iraq, you'll see an overall trending downward," he said.
"We don't see any re-creation of militia groups. There are still militia groups out there, but there's certainly no growth … in that pattern," he said.
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