Plans for the future of U.S. security cooperation with Iraq, including the role of U.S. service members on the ground there, are still being discussed by the U.S.-Iraq Higher Military Commission, or HMC, said the Pentagon press secretary. 

"The nature of these conversations are focused on transitioning from the global coalition for the enduring defeat of ISIS, the current structure, to what does a longer-term U.S-Iraqi bilateral security relationship look like," said Air Force Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder during a meeting today with members of the civilian news media. 

"We highly value Iraq as a partner," Ryder said. "They play a very important role in the region when it comes to security and stability, particularly on the counterterrorism front, and, so, we need to allow the HMC the time and space to have those conversations." 

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