U.S. Completes Drawdown to 50,000 Forces in Iraq
(Reuters) -- The United States has completed its drawdown of its forces to Iraq to 50,000, ahead of the scheduled Aug. 31 date, a senior administration official said on Wednesday.
He added the combat mission was not yet over and would continue until Aug. 31.
"We have drawn down to 50,000, but to be clear, the mission changes on the 31st, when brigades that are left are re-missioned to advise-and-assist brigades," a senior Obama administration said.
Reporting by Ross Colvin; Editing by Peter Cooney.