x

No U.S. troop withdrawal from Iraq, Pentagon says, amid reports

There has been “no change” in U.S. policy towards the troop presence in Iraq, a Pentagon spokeswoman said Monday, amid swirling reports of a troop pullout following the U.S. killing of a top Iranian general.

“There has been no change in U.S. 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,” Pentagon spokeswoman Alyssa Farah said in a tweet.

The statement came shortly after multiple  U.S. media outlets reported that a U.S. general in Iraq sent a letter to Iraqi military officials stating that U.S. troops will be relocating troops “to prepare for onward movement”.

“We respect your sovereign decision to order our departure,” the letter reportedly said.

U.S. General Mark Milley told reporters at the Pentagon that the letter was a draft and “a mistake,” according to multiple  U.S. media reports

Milley said that  the letter was “poorly worded, implies withdrawal. That is not what’s happening.”

The future of more than 5,000 U.S. troops in Iraq came a day after Iraq’s parliament voted in a non-binding resolution for ousting U.S. soldiers following the killing of the Iranian general Qassem Soleimani.

“We do not accept that Iraq becomes a scene to settle scores,” said Iraq’s caretaker prime minister Adel Abdel-Mahdi on Monday during a meeting with China’s ambassador in Baghdad.

Iraq’s parliament passed a resolution calling for an end to the presence of foreign troops linked to a U.S.-led alliance fighting Islamic State.

There are currently around 5,000 U.S. soldiers stationed in Iraq.

Trump’s decision to kill move Soleimani, the commander of Iran’s elite Quds Force, and Abu Mahdi al-Mohandes, the deputy head of Iraq’s Muslim Shiite militia Hashd al-Shaabi, along with several other Iran-allied militiamen has sent shock waves throughout the Middle East.

Abdel-Mahdi said on Sunday steps were being worked out for the departure of foreign troops from the country.

“Iraqi officials in different departments are preparing a memorandum on the legal and procedural steps to implement the parliament’s decision on the foreign troops’ withdrawal,” Abdel-Mahdi’s office said.

U.S. President Donald Trump has by threatened Iraq with sanctions if there is “any hostility” regarding the demand for U.S. troops to leave. (dpa/NAN)

Hot this week

DSS Nabs 3 Gunrunners Supplying Arms to Bandits in Kaduna

The Department of State Services (DSS) has arrested three...

Truck Crushes Female Federal University Lokoja Lecturer to Death in Lokoja

By Noah Ocheni, LokojaA female lecturer at the Federal...

Kaduna Partners REA to Boost Renewable Energy Access, Drive Industrial Growth

By Achadu Gabriel, KadunaThe Kaduna State Government, under the...

CACOL Commends Federal Government for Removing Nigeria from FATF Grey List

By Jabiru HassanThe Centre for Anti-Corruption and Open Leadership...

BAVCCA urges Nigerians to defend Dangote Refinery

President of the Bloggers and Vloggers, Content Creators Association...

INSPIRATION: The Family: The Forgotten Powerhouse of Civilization

By Mary EwaFamily — the smallest yet most powerful...

INSPIRATION: Seeing Myself in the Light of Now

By Mary EwaTechnology is the wealth of the twenty-first...

PenCom mulls reintroduction of gratuity as pension assets hit N25trillion

By Ogenyi Ogenyi, UyoThe National Pension Commission, PenCom, has...

Security Operatives Question NDDC MD Over Alleged Coup Financing

By our correspondentThere is palpable tension at the headquarters...

ALSTDI Commends President Tinubu for Extending Adebomehin’s Tenure, Hails Progress in Geospatial Intelligence and National Mapping Reforms

….Says extension reflects confidence in performance and continuity….Urges Surveyor-General...

ALSTDI Commends Tinubu for Extending Adebomehin’s Tenure, Praises Geospatial and Mapping Reforms

….Says extension reflects confidence in performance and continuity….Urges Surveyor-General...

The Global Governance Initiative and the Quest for a Multipolar World

By Prof. Udenta O. UdentaThe world is changing, and...

Related Articles

Popular Categories

spot_imgspot_img