WASHINGTON, Dec. 23 (Xinhuanet) -- U.S. President George W. Bush has ordered the core force of 17 combat brigades inside Iraq to be trimmed to 15 brigades early next year, The New York Times reported Friday, quoting Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld.

    The net reduction of American forces in Iraq under this order was between 3,000 to 5,000 troops, and the decision signals that a cautious realignment has begun, which was intended to bring U.S. troop levels in Iraq soon to their lowest point since mid-2004, the report quoted officials as saying.

    Further incremental reductions in the months to come were expected, the report said.

    Rumsfeld made the announcement on a visit to Falluja, Iraq, but did not provide the exact size of the troop reductions.

    Officials said that under the current plan, a brigade of the 1st Armored Division, now in Kuwait but based in Germany, would not immediately be sent into Iraq as previously planned. That brigade could remain in Kuwait to be called on as needed.

    A brigade of the 1st Infantry Division based at Fort Riley, Kansas, and slated for a yearlong tour in Iraq, would not be sent in its entirety. Instead, smaller units of the brigade could be sent over the coming months to help train Iraqi security forces, while others might be sent to Iraq later to guard bases, utilities, infrastructure and other locations as required.

    Both the two brigades, comprising about 7,000 troops, have served in Iraq.

    Rumsfeld and other Pentagon officials have said about 22,000 extra troops kept in Iraq for the Dec. 15 elections would rotate out of the country in early 2006. Holding back the two brigades would bring the number of U.S. troops in Iraq to about 130,000, the level for much of 2003 and 2004.

    The American military has deployed a normal, "baseline" troop strength in Iraq of 138,000 forces over the past year or so, but the level was elevated to about 160,000 to provide extra security for Iraq's elections in January, October and this month.

    American commanders and senior Pentagon officials have said that U.S. troop levels in Iraq could fall to about 100,000 by next fall, depending on the security and political situations in the country. Enditem