Moving Out

American combat forces have left Iraqi cities, villages and localities in accordance with last year's security agreement between the two governments, the Defense Department announced today.

"U.S. forces outside urban areas will continue to conduct operations by, with, and through ((the Iraqi security forces)), focusing on securing Iraqi borders and areas outside the cities," the statement reads.

American forces remaining in Iraqi cities will "train, advise and coordinate" with Iraqi forces and support "civil capacity efforts," Gen. Ray Odierno, commanding general, Multi-National Force Iraq, is quoted as saying in the statement.

The current number of U.S. troops in Iraq is 131,000, according to the statement. In addition, 125,163 contractors support DOD missions there, the document states.