{"id":46474,"date":"2020-01-06T21:10:05","date_gmt":"2020-01-06T21:10:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/uncategorized\/2020\/01\/06\/us-forces-preparing-to-withdraw-from-iraq\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T03:17:02","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T03:17:02","slug":"us-forces-preparing-to-withdraw-from-iraq","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/flashpoints\/2020\/01\/06\/us-forces-preparing-to-withdraw-from-iraq\/","title":{"rendered":"In Iraq pullout plan, Esper says DoD has made \u2018no decision whatsoever\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Confusion reigned at the Pentagon Monday amid credible reports from inside the U.S. military that preparations were underway to withdraw U.S. troops from Iraq following a U.S. strike that killed a top Iranian<\/a> commander.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A letter from Marine Brig. Gen. William Seely addressed to the Iraqi military circulated on social media Monday, saying that the U.S. was \u201crepositioning forces\u201d for \u201conward movement.” A U.S. defense official confirmed to Military Times on Monday that the letter from Seely, the commander of Task Force Iraq, was authentic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A short while later, Secretary of Defense Mark Esper pushed back against the reports, telling reporters at the Pentagon Monday afternoon that the letter was not accurate and that there has been no decision to leave Iraq.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Esper said he didn\u2019t know anything about a letter that appears to suggest preparation for troops to move out of Iraq.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But Esper did confirm that there has been some repositioning of U.S. forces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThere\u2019s been no decision whatsoever to leave Iraq,\u201d the defense secretary said at the Pentagon, adding, \u201cthere\u2019s no decision to leave, nor did we issue any plans to leave or prepare to leave.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Esper said the U.S. remains committed to the campaign to defeat the Islamic State group in Iraq and the region.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, later told reporters the U.S. is \u201cmoving forces around\u201d Iraq and neighboring Kuwait. He said a draft letter circulated internally by a U.S. Marine commander was a \u201cpoorly written\u201d honest mistake that should never have gotten out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The draft letter appeared to suggest the U.S. was preparing to pull troops out of Iraq in response to a vote by the Iraqi Parliament over the weekend.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Milley and Esper, however, said the U.S. has been moving troops around Iraq largely due to increased security threats from Iran. The letter was meant to coordinate with the Iraqi military on an increase in U.S. helicopter and troop movements as they shift positions around the country, they said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Milley acknowledged that some language in the letter \u201cimplies withdrawal,” but said that \u201dis not what is happening.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe long and the short of it is, it\u2019s an honest mistake,” he said, adding that he had just gotten off the phone with the U.S. commander in the Middle East, who explained the effort.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some U.S. troops in Iraq are moving to safer positions, a defense official told Military Times Monday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The U.S. is \u201cmoving some forces around to appropriately place our folks on the ground to be in very good defensive positions. We are keeping our force safe. There is no change in policy as far as a wide-scale exit.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Army Lt. Col. Thomas Campbell, a Pentagon spokesman, told Military Times there “has been no change in US policy with regard to our force presence in Iraq. We continue to consult with the Iraqi government regarding the defeat-ISIS mission and efforts to support the Iraqi Security Forces. We remain committed to the D-ISIS coalition and ensuring a safe, secure, and prosperous future for the Iraqi people.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The letter said the move to get troops out of Iraq was \u201cin due deference to the sovereignty of Iraq and as requested by the Iraqi Parliament and the Prime Minister.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIn order to conduct this task, Coalition Forces are required to take certain measures to ensure that the movement out of Iraq is conducted in a safe and efficient manner,\u201d the letter reads.<\/p>\n\n\n\t