Baghdad, March 7 (Reuters) - U.S. Defense Secretary
Lloyd Austin made an unannounced trip to Iraq on Tuesday, in a
visit that an official said was aimed at showing that Washington
was committed to keeping its military presence there nearly 20
years after the U.S.-led invasion toppled Saddam Hussein.
"What (Iraqi's) will hear from him is commitment to
retaining our force presence, but it's not just about the
military instrument. The United States is broadly interested in
a strategic partnership with the government of Iraq," the senior
U.S. defense official, speaking on the condition of anonymity,
told reporters.
Austin was the last commanding general of U.S. forces in
Iraq after the 2003 invasion.
(Reporting by Idrees Ali in Baghdad; Editing by Andrew Heavens)
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