Italy to slash military presence in Iraq

Rome, Feb 14 (IANS/AKI) Italy will cut its 1,500 military contingent in Iraq this year, drawing down at least 700 troops, it was announced at a summit in Rome, Corriere della Sera daily reported on Wednesday.

Italian Defence Minister Roberta Pinotti was among 15 defence ministers from the global coalition fighting the Islamic State jihadist group who attended Tuesday's summit.

The meeting focused on foreign fighters, preventing a resurgence of IS and reconstructing areas of Iraq and Syria formerly under the terror group's control.

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