Iraq's government said today it welcomed testimony to Congress by the US commander in Iraq.
General David Petraeus recommended cutting US troops by about 30,000 by next July, ending a so-called surge of forces but not fundamentally changing strategy in the unpopular war.
Iraq national security adviser Mowaffaq al-Rubaie
"The Iraqi government welcomes this report," said national security adviser Mowaffaq al-Rubaie, giving the government's official reaction to testimony by Gen Petraeus and Ambassador Ryan Crocker to Congress in Washington yesterday.
"We expect in the near future that our need will be diminished for the multinational forces to conduct direct combat operations," added Mr Rubaie.
The general suggested US forces could fall to about 130,000 without hurting modest security improvements. That would return US troop strength to roughly the same level it was before an increase ordered by President George W. Bush early this year.
Mr Rubaie said all Iraqi security forces would be trained and equipped by the middle of next year.
"We highly appreciate the sacrifices given by our friends in the coalition, which has paved the way to boost victory and security in Iraq," he added.
Violence has ebbed in some parts of Iraq but attacks continue, and a suicide truck bomber killed 10 people in northern Iraq yesterday.
Some Iraqis feared the cut of 30,000 troops, about the same number deployed under Mr Bush's "surge" strategy, would be an invitation for Shia militias, Sunni Arab insurgents and al-Qaeda fighters to wait before resuming attacks.
Sceptical Iraqis said that what progress there had been was illusory and labelled the report a public relations exercise.