The United States is mulling two options for the withdrawal of US troops from Iraq, according to a report in an official Iraqi newspaper on Wednesday.
Al-Sabah quoted an Iraqi official as saying that the two sides are discussing the future of the roughly 50,000 US combat troops currently deployed in Iraq, DPA reported.
"There are two points being discussed. The first is to focus on the importance of a US withdrawal by the end of this year, while the latter looks at extending the duration of the troop deployment to assist with training and support," said the official.
Under a security agreement signed by both Baghdad and Washington in 2008, the United States is scheduled to withdraw its forces from Iraq by the end of this year.