US President Barack Obama has declared an end to the Iraq war, announcing that all American troops will be withdrawing from the country by the end of the year.
Obama stressed that he was meeting a withdrawal deadline reached earlier with the Iraqis, as well as keeping a pledge made as a candidate in 2008 to wind down the controversial war as fast as possible.
"Today I can report that, as promised, the rest of our troops in Iraq will come home by the end of the year. After nearly nine years, America's war in Iraq will be over," the Telegraph quoted Obama, as saying.
He said that the remaining 40,000 US troops in Iraq, would "definitely be home for the holidays".
Obama, however, asserted that the "United States is moving forward from a position of strength".
"The last American soldier will cross the border out of Iraq with their head held high, proud of their service," he said.
