DIPLOMATS AIM TO EASE TENSIONS AFTER IRAQ ATTACK.

BAGHDAD The Western troop presence in Iraq is to be scaled down under a plan to defuse regional tensions over America’s killing of Iranian general Qassem Soleimani.

Rather than bowing to Iranian demands for a pullout of all coalition forces, diplomats are working toward a compromise deal whereby the foreign troop presence will be reduced. They hope that will satisfy demands from pro-iranian factions in Iraq’s parliament, which voted two weeks ago for foreign troops to leave after Soleimani’s death in a U.S. drone strike on Jan. 3.

The plan follows concerns among Western military chiefs that an immediate pullout would hamper the ongoing mop-up operations against Islamic State remnants in Iraq. Iraq’s Kurdish and Sunni Muslim politicians also voiced fears that a complete withdrawal by Washington would give Tehran even greater sway over the Shia Muslim bloc that dominates the parliament.

One Western official said: “Within the Shia bloc there are two views: Iranian-backed groups want the U.S. and coalition forces to leave immediately, but pragmatists want a smaller coalition presence, which is where discussions are taking place.”

While pro-iranian factions in the Iraqi government are pushing for a complete withdrawal, it’s thought that a significant reduction in numbers would be acceptable as a conciliatory gesture.

There are around 5,200 U.S. troops in Iraq, along with roughly 4,000 from other Western nations.