US operation in Iraq finally ends says Obama

U.S. President Barack Obama said Tuesday the end of the combat mission in Iraq more than seven years after the U.S. invasion of the Middle East. In the speech from the White House less than two weeks after the last U.S. combat brigade left Iraq, Obama said it was time for Iraqis to take responsibility for their safety.

"Tonight I am pleased to announce that the U.S. combat mission in Iraq is over," he told an evening televised address from the Oval Office. "Operation Iraqi Freedom has been completed, and the people The Iraqis have the primary responsibility for the safety of their country." Thanks to this extraordinary chapter in the history of the United States and Iraq, we met our responsibility. Now it's time to move on."

Less than 50,000 American soldiers remain in Iraq, and is responsible for training Iraqi military and some of the anti-terrorism. The U.S. State Department to take over the new operation - named 'New Dawn' - the soldiers. About 100,000 soldiers in Iraq since Obama took office in January 2009.

The president has instead sharpened focus on the military in Afghanistan. Obama, who opposed the US-led invasion in Iraq, highlights the "enormous price in lives and treasure in a war of seven years and has promised to focus once again to increase the U.S. flag forces home economics." Today most urgent task is to restore our economy and put millions of Americans who have lost their jobs back to work," he said. More than 4,400 U.S. soldiers were killed earlier US-led invasion of Iraq in March 2003.