US President Barack Obama will deliver a speech August 31 addressing the end of the US combat role in Iraq and the transition to a civilian-led effort, the White House said Tuesday, dpa reported.
The venue for the speech has not been determined, said Bill Burton, a White House spokesman.
Obama had set the date as the deadline for withdrawing combat forces, which was completed last week. US forces in Iraq confirmed earlier Tuesday that fewer than 50,000 troops remained in Iraq.
The remaining troops are staying behind to continue training Iraqi security forces and assist in counter-terrorism operations and are due to leave by the end of 2011.
More than 94,000 US soldiers have left Iraq since Obama took office in January 2009 as part of his plan to shift focus to the conflict in Afghanistan.