{"id":65850,"date":"2020-01-05T15:09:49","date_gmt":"2020-01-05T15:09:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/uncategorized\/2020\/01\/05\/us-suspends-training-iraqi-troops-to-focus-on-base-security\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T03:04:26","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T03:04:26","slug":"us-suspends-training-iraqi-troops-to-focus-on-base-security","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/flashpoints\/2020\/01\/05\/us-suspends-training-iraqi-troops-to-focus-on-base-security\/","title":{"rendered":"US suspends training Iraqi troops to focus on base security in wake of Soleimani killing"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Iran’s top intelligence and security commander was killed in a drone strike on the orders of President Trump, as tensions escalated between the U.S and Iran.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n

The U.S.-led coalition combating ISIS in Iraq and Syria announced Sunday that U.S. troops were pausing the training of Iraqi troops as threats to coalition troops housed at Iraqi bases persist.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Following Saturday\u2019s rocket attack<\/a> on the Balad Air Base and an indirect fire attack in Baghdad, officials with Operation Inherent Resolve say there have now been 13 attacks against bases housing American forces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAs a result we are now fully committed to protecting the Iraqi bases that host Coalition troops. This has limited our capacity to conduct training with partners and to support their operations against Daesh and we have therefore paused these activities, subject to continuous review,\u201d OIR said in a news release.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Associated Press <\/a>reported Saturday that the NATO Iraq training mission had also been suspended in light of the dire security situation following the U.S. strike that killed revered Iranian general Qassem Soleimani, the commander of Iran\u2019s Quds Force.<\/p>\n\n\n\t