Facts and Figures on Drawdown in Iraq – “Let me say this as plainly as I can: by August 31, 2010, our combat mission in Iraq will end.” – President Barack Obama, Camp Lejeune, February 27, 2009. When President Obama took office in January 2009, there were 144,000 U.S. troops in Iraq. At his Camp Lejeune speech on February 27, 2009, President Obama announced that the United States would end its combat mission on August 31, 2010, and retain a transitional force of up to 50,000 U.S. troops to train and advise Iraqi Security Forces; conduct partnered and targeted counter-terrorism operations; and protect ongoing U.S. civilian and military efforts.”