President Barack Obama on Friday announced that virtually all U.S. troops will come home from Iraq by the end of the year -- at which point he can declare an end to America's long and costly war in that Middle Eastern nation. "After nearly nine years, America's war in Iraq will be over," Obama said. "The coming months will be a season of homecomings. Our troops in Iraq will definitely be home for the holidays." Of the 39,000 troops in Iraq, about 150, a negligible force, will remain to assist in arms sales, a U.S. official told CNN. The rest will be out of Iraq by December 31.
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U.S. defense chief says Iraqi forces are capable
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A U.S. official says Iraq "will not roll over" to Iranians trying to exert their influence
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Iraq's prime minister says he and Obama both want to "start a new phase" in relations
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Almost all U.S. troops will be home by the end of December, according to Obama
Another U.S. official -- who is not authorized to speak for attribution -- acknowledged that "the Iranians have been trying to gain influence in Iraq for some time," but stressed that "@placeholder influence in Iraq has limits."