The first round of dialogue to discuss ending the U.S.-led international coalition's mission in Iraq was launched on Saturday, the Iraqi government said.

A statement from the media office of Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani said al-Sudani sponsored the launch of the first round of the dialogue without giving further details and published a picture of al-Sudani chairing a meeting attended by senior Iraqi military officers and U.S. officials.

On Thursday, Iraq said it agreed with the United States to form the Higher Military Commission to discuss the end of the U.S.-led international coalition's mission in Iraq.

Iraq noted that the commission will assess the threat posed by the Islamic State and evaluate the capabilities of Iraqi security forces to formulate a clear timetable for the gradual reduction of international coalition advisors in Iraq and the end of the coalition's military mission.