The Iraqi government confirmed on Monday that the US has started to drawdown its forces from Iraq, following Baghdad’s declaration of victory over ISIS in December. Hisham al-Hashemi, a specialist on extremist movements, told Asharq Al-Awsat that there is a re-positioning and deployment of US forces in Syria, rather than talks about a pullout. “The US is keen to prevent the infiltration of any Iraqi members from or to Syria, whether those members were ISIS fighters or any other armed factions,” he explained. Hashemi added that part of the US troops would be sent to Afghanistan. “The total number of US forces in Iraq currently includes 8,400 troops, mostly consultants and their bodyguards,” the expert said, adding that Washington wants to keep around 4,000 troops in Iraq for an indefinite period, based on conditions set by the US strategy. He said those forces do not possess any heavy weapons and they are now positioned in nine joint military camps with the Iraqi Army. On Monday, spokesperson for Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi’s office, Saad al-Hadithi confirmed to AP: “The US forces drawdown from Iraq has started after Baghdad announced its victory over ISIS.” According to western contractors at a US-led coalition base in Iraq, American soldiers have been transported from Iraq to Afghanistan on daily flights over the past week, along with weapons and equipment. The reports were confirmed by Hadithi, who said: "The battle against ISIS has ended and so the level of the American presence will be reduced.” The Iraqi spokesperson stressed the drawdown was still in its early stages and does not mark the beginning of a complete pullout of US forces. US Army Colonel Ryan Dillon, spokesperson for the US-led coalition against ISIS, declined on Monday to confirm or deny whether US forces have begun reducing their numbers in Iraq. He told Reuters: “Coordination continues, to maintain (US) assistance to the Iraqi forces in accordance with their requirements.”