WASHINGTON ( CNN ) -- The U.S. expects the level of violence in Iraq to rise as it goes ahead with its planned withdrawal of troops from Iraqi cities by June 30 , the Pentagon said Wednesday . Except for soldiers in advisory roles , all U.S. combat troops will leave Iraqi cities and towns by June 30 . Under the terms of its agreement with the Iraqi government , the U.S. will remove all combat troops from Iraqi cities and towns -- leaving security responsibilities to the Iraqis and remaining only in a training and advisory capacity . In areas outside of the cities and towns , the U.S. military will continue to conduct combat operations and security patrols in coordination with the Iraqis . Violent attacks are at an `` all-time '' low according to Pentagon spokesman Geoff Morrell , but there continue to be sporadic high-profile attacks by insurgents , including a blast that killed 62 people and injured 150 others at a Baghdad market on Wednesday . Such a spike in violence is to be expected , Morrell told reporters Wednesday , `` based upon the pattern of behavior that we 've seen over the past few weeks , and , frankly , historically in Iraq , leading up to seminal dates , whether it be elections or other significant dates , of an uptick in the operational tempo of terrorists and insurgents . '' In a letter to U.S. troops , the top U.S. commander insisted the withdrawal was appropriate . `` This is the right time to transition security of the cities to the ISF [ Iraq Security Force ] who are ready for this task , '' Gen. Raymond Odierno wrote on June 21 . While the U.S. has seen progress , it is not ready to declare victory in Iraq and Morrell suggested such a declaration may never happen . `` I do n't think anybody 's too preoccupied with declaring victory . I do n't think that was necessarily something we 'll ever do , '' Morrell said at a news conference at the Pentagon . The notion of declaring victory is controversial since former President Bush 's declaration in May 2003 that major combat operations in Iraq were over while he was standing under a sign reading `` Mission Accomplished . '' The pronouncement was premature , with violence and deaths of U.S. troops and Iraqi civilians escalating in the years that followed .
As agreed upon , U.S. will remove all combat troops from Iraqi cities and towns . With Iraqi violence at `` all-time '' low , Pentagon expects `` uptick '' after June 30 . U.S. commander to troops : `` This is the right time to transition security of the cities '' Blast kills 62 people and injures 150 others at a Baghdad market on Wednesday .