WASHINGTON – The Pentagon's top two officials distanced themselves Monday from an American general in the Middle East whose letter to Iraq's government announced the U.S. "will be repositioning forces" in response to its demand that the U.S. leave the country. Defense Secretary Mark Esper said no decision has been made to pull U.S. troops from Iraq.Esper was responding to an unsigned letter from Marine Corps Brig. Gen. William H. Seely III, addressed to Iraq’s defense ministry, saying the U.S.-led coalition is preparing to reposition troops in "deference to the sovereignty of the Republic of Iraq.”On Sunday, the Iraqi parliament voted to expel U.S. military forces from the country."We respect your sovereign decision to order our departure," said Seely's letter, dated Monday. It said forces would be moved in the "coming days and weeks," which would result in increased military helicopter traffic around Baghdad's international zone. But no such decision has been made on removing U.S. troops from Iraq, Esper said. “Period.”Tensions rise:What you need to know about the death of Gen. Soleimani and the escalating situation with IranWithdrawal would be a sudden reversal for TrumpThe issue further clouded rapidly changing circumstances following the missile strike Thursday in Baghdad that killed Iranian Gen. Qasem Soleimani. Esper appeared before reporters with Army General Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, to downplay Seely's letter and to stress that Soleimani had been killed to prevent imminent attacks on U.S. troops.After the briefing, Milley returned to tell reporters Seely's letter was a draft circulated for review and was a mistake. A U.S. withdrawal from Iraq would be a surprise reversal for President Donald Trump, who less than 24 hours earlier criticized the Iraq parliament's vote to expel U.S. forces and vowed to keep American troops in Iraq unless the government repays the U.S. for the cost of a military installation."We've spent a lot of money in Iraq," Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One. "We have a very extraordinarily expensive air base that’s there. It cost billions of dollars to build. ... We’re not leaving unless they pay us back for it."The Pentagon announced just last week it was sending as many as 3,000 additional soldiers to the Middle East to bolster existing forces.More:Donald Trump threatens Iraq with sanctions, says US won't leave unless 'they pay us back' for air baseSeely's letter came after Iraq's leaders expressed outrage over a U.S. airstrike that killed Soleimani, who led Iran's elite Quds Force, near Baghdad International Airport last week. Iraq said the strike was a violation of its sovereignty. The Iraqi expulsion resolution passed Sunday is nonbinding, and it's not clear if the government will take further steps to force U.S. troops out. About 5,000 American military personnel are stationed in the country. Pentagon says Soleimani was planning to attack U.S.Milley defended the attack that killed
US hasn't decided on Iraq withdrawal, Pentagon says, calling general's letter a mistake
WASHINGTON – The Pentagon's top two officials distanced themselves Monday from an American general in the Middle East whose letter to Iraq's government announced the U.S. "will be repositioning forces" in response to its demand that the U.S. leave the country. Defense Secretary Mark Esper said no decision has been made to pull U.S. troops from Iraq.Esper was responding to an unsigned letter from Marine Corps Brig. Gen. William H. Seely III, addressed to Iraq’s defense ministry, saying the U.S.-led coalition is preparing to reposition troops in "deference to the sovereignty of the Republic of Iraq.”On Sunday, the Iraqi parliament voted to expel U.S. military forces from the country."We respect your sovereign decision to order our departure," said Seely's letter, dated Monday. It said forces would be moved in the "coming days and weeks," which would result in increased military helicopter traffic around Baghdad's international zone. But no such decision has been made on removing U.S. troops from Iraq, Esper said. “Period.”Tensions rise:What you need to know about the death of Gen. Soleimani and the escalating situation with IranWithdrawal would be a sudden reversal for TrumpThe issue further clouded rapidly changing circumstances following the missile strike Thursday in Baghdad that killed Iranian Gen. Qasem Soleimani. Esper appeared before reporters with Army General Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, to downplay Seely's letter and to stress that Soleimani had been killed to prevent imminent attacks on U.S. troops.After the briefing, Milley returned to tell reporters Seely's letter was a draft circulated for review and was a mistake. A U.S. withdrawal from Iraq would be a surprise reversal for President Donald Trump, who less than 24 hours earlier criticized the Iraq parliament's vote to expel U.S. forces and vowed to keep American troops in Iraq unless the government repays the U.S. for the cost of a military installation."We've spent a lot of money in Iraq," Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One. "We have a very extraordinarily expensive air base that’s there. It cost billions of dollars to build. ... We’re not leaving unless they pay us back for it."The Pentagon announced just last week it was sending as many as 3,000 additional soldiers to the Middle East to bolster existing forces.More:Donald Trump threatens Iraq with sanctions, says US won't leave unless 'they pay us back' for air baseSeely's letter came after Iraq's leaders expressed outrage over a U.S. airstrike that killed Soleimani, who led Iran's elite Quds Force, near Baghdad International Airport last week. Iraq said the strike was a violation of its sovereignty. The Iraqi expulsion resolution passed Sunday is nonbinding, and it's not clear if the government will take further steps to force U.S. troops out. About 5,000 American military personnel are stationed in the country. Pentagon says Soleimani was planning to attack U.S.Milley defended the attack that killed
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