The U.S. will end its combat role in Iraq by the end of the year, President Joe Biden said this week.

Joint Chiefs of Staff Vice Chair Gen. John Hyten also signaled the change.

“We have to not ignore the threats in the Middle East, but deal with the threat to the Middle East in a different way, with a smaller footprint, so we can divert more of our body on threats in China and Russia,” Hyten said, according to Defense One.

White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki wouldn’t say how many of the roughly 2,500 troops in Iraq would remain for training and to advise strategic partners in the region.

Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Thomas Spencer