<p style="margin: 0px; text-align: justify;">The Iraqi government is forming a committee to prepare the closing down of the U.S.-led international coalition's mission in the country. This was stated by Prime Minister of Iraq Mohammed Shia' Al Sudani. The statement came a day after a U.S. strike killed a militia leader in Baghdad, prompting anger among Iran-aligned groups that demanded the government end the presence of the coalition in Iraq.</p>''<p style="margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"> </p>''<p style="margin: 0px; text-align: justify;">The committee would include representatives of the military coalition. The Pentagon said the U.S. military launched Thursday's strike in retaliation against recent attacks<b> </b>on U.S. personnel in Iraq and Iran.</p>''<p style="margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"> </p>''<p style="margin: 0px; text-align: justify;">The United States has 900 troops in Syria and 2,500 in Iraq on a mission. It aims to advise and assist local forces trying to prevent a resurgence of Islamic State, which in 2014 seized large parts of both countries before being defeated.</p>''<p style="margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"> </p>''<p style="margin: 0px; text-align: justify;">Iran-aligned militia groups in Iraq and Syria oppose Israel's campaign in the Gaza Strip and hold the U.S. partly responsible. Prime Minister Sudani<b> </b>has limited control over some Iran-backed factions, with whose support he won power a year ago and who now form a powerful bloc in his governing coalition.</p>''<p style="margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"> </p>''<p style="margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #222222;">Islamic State claimed responsibility on Thursday for two explosions in Iran that killed nearly 100 people and wounded scores at a memorial for top commander Qassem Soleimani.</span></p>