Iraq announces the stay duration of the new U.S. forces.

The Iraqi Minister of Defense, Najah al-Shammari said on Wednesday that U.S. troops withdrawing from northeast Syria to Iraq would leave the country within four weeks.

Al-Shammari’s statements came after meeting in Baghdad with his U.S. counterpart, Mark Esper, who arrived as Iraqi leaders were inspecting reports that the United States wants to increase the number of troops stationed in Iraq, at least temporarily.

The United States has no plans to leave those forces in Iraq “endlessly,” he said, adding that he planned to talk to Iraqi leaders about the matter.

Al-Shammari said that Esper traveled to Iraq at a previous invitation, and pointed out that the two sides agreed in talks on Wednesday, that U.S. troops crossing from Syria “will pass” through Iraq, and then will leave within a period of no more than four weeks.

The Iraqi minister said that the planes, which will transport U.S. troops out of Iraq, have already arrived.