BAGHDAD, Jan 7 — The United States has no plans to pull American troops out of Iraq, Defence Secretary Mark Esper said yesterday, following reports by Reuters and other media of a US military letter informing Iraq officials about the repositioning of troops in preparation to leave the country....
Tuesday, 07 Jan 2020 06:58 AM MYT
The developments come in the aftermath of an American drone strike ordered by US President Donald Trump that killed Iranian military commander Qassem Soleimani, widely seen as Iran's second most powerful figure behind Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. “Poorly worded, implies withdrawal. That's not what's happening,” US Army General Mark Milley, chairman of the military's Joint Chiefs of Staff, said, stressing there was no withdrawal being planned.
Several helicopters could be heard flying over Baghdad on Monday night. It was not immediately clear if this was a related development. The letter said coalition forces would be using helicopters to evacuate. It was signed by US Marine Corps Brigadier General William Seely III, commanding general of the US-led military coalition against Islamic State.“We respect your sovereign decision to order our departure,” the letter said.
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