American Troop Level Falls Below 50,000

The U.S. military says its troop numbers in Iraq have dropped below 50,000 ahead of an Aug. 31 deadline to end combat operations, Reuters reports.

The current number of personnel, 49,700, will hold steady through next summer, said Gen. Ray Odierno, commander of U.S. forces in Iraq.

The six remaining U.S. brigades in Iraq will take on an advisory role on Sept. 1, training and supporting the Iraqi army and police. That operation has been dubbed "New Dawn."

Most U.S. personnel...