A senior administration official has told reporters Tuesday night that President Trump will announce a drawdown of troops in Iraq Wednesday, Reuters reports.

The announcement comes as Trump facing increasing backlash from his reported comments, detailed in The Atlantic, that disparaged active duty military as well as those killed, wounded and/or captured in action defending US interests.

Trump’s popularity among active-duty troops trails his presidential election opponent, Democrat Joe Biden.  According to Military Times, Trump trails Biden among active duty troops, 41.3%-37.4%.  Only 38.8% of active troops have a favorable job approval for Trump, versus 49.9% who have an unfavorable view.

Trump also insulted the military in his Labor Day press briefing by claiming military leaders continue wars to make military contractors “happy.”

The reduction in force in Iraq would withdraw 4,000 of the 5,200 troops out of Iraq.  The official also said that the administration also plans to cut the number of US troops in Afghanistan by more than half, from 8,200 to around 4,000.

The move is reminiscent of Trump’s troop withdrawal from Syria, which he apparently announced without consulting military leaders and after talking with Russian President Vladimir Putin.  Trump’s announcement to take all troops out of Syria–thereby leaving allied forces on the ground, including Kurds, at the hands of Syrian and Turkish forces–took military leaders by surprise.

As a result, the withdrawal was haphazard and required the US to bomb a base the military has set up to prevent Russians from getting an ammunition cache.  Russians also occupied three bases, including one where soda in a vending machine was still cold.