what??

Iraqi children gather close to a US soldier on the outskirts of the southern city of Basra. Two suicide bombers blew themselves up in northern Iraq, killing at least 34 people in the deadliest attack since US forces pulled out of towns and cities nationwide just over a week ago . (AFP/File/Essam -al-Sudani)

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The photo is dated July 9, 2009.

If the US troops have been removed from Iraqi cities, where the flip did these kids come from?