BAGHDAD (AP) -- The American military says the number of American troops in Iraq has fallen below the 50,000 figure that was mandated by President Barack Obama. 

This is the lowest troop level in Iraq since the 2003 U.S.-led invasion and comes ahead of the Aug. 31 deadline set by the president.

Under a plan by Obama, American forces in Iraq will no longer conduct what are described as combat operations. They are instead to concentrate on training Iraqi forces and helping with counterterrorism operations - if asked for by the Iraqis.

The military announced the news in a press release on Tuesday. They did not give an exact number of how many troops are currently in the country.

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