The US defence secretary has denied US troops are pulling out of Iraq, after a letter from a US general in the Middle Eastern country suggested a withdrawal was imminent.
Mark Esper insisted there had been “no decision whatsoever to leave” after a general’s letter said Washington would be “repositioning forces in the coming days and weeks to prepare for onward movement”.
The letter from Brig Gen William H. Seely, head of the US military's task force in Iraq, says measures will be conducted “during hours of darkness” to “ensure the movement out of Iraq is conducted in a safe and efficient manner”.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Amid what The Guardian describes as “scenes of confusion in Washington,” Esper told reporters: “I don't know what that letter is... We're trying to find out where that's coming from, what that is. But there's been no decision made to leave Iraq. Period.”
The chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, Gen Mark Milley, said: “That letter is a draft, it was a mistake, it was unsigned, it should not have been released.” He described it as: “poorly worded, implies withdrawal, that is not what’s happening”.
The confusion comes after Iraqi lawmakers voted in favour of the departure of American troops from their country.
Iraqi politician Faleh al-Khazali said: “Trump should know that Iraq is not an American state and Iraqi prime minister Adil Abdul-Mahdi should bear responsibility. We demand all US troops to leave Iraq and Iraqi government should consider them as occupiers.”
However, The Times notes that on Sunday, Trump said that if US forces left on anything other than “a very friendly basis” he would impose sanctions on Iraq.
The US president also said he would demand to be repaid for the “extraordinarily expensive airbase” the United States had built.
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––For a round-up of the most important stories from around the world - and a concise, refreshing and balanced take on the week’s news agenda - try The Week magazine. Start your trial subscription today –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
-
Trump’s poll collapse: can he stop the slide?Talking Point President who promised to ease cost-of-living has found that US economic woes can’t be solved ‘via executive fiat’
-
Codeword: December 7, 2025The daily codeword puzzle from The Week
-
Crossword: December 7, 2025The daily crossword from The Week
-
Pakistan: Trump’s ‘favourite field marshal’ takes chargeIn the Spotlight Asim Munir’s control over all three branches of Pakistan’s military gives him ‘sweeping powers’ – and almost unlimited freedom to use them
-
Is Europe finally taking the war to Russia?Today's Big Question As Moscow’s drone buzzes and cyberattacks increase, European leaders are taking a more openly aggressive stance
-
Pushing for peace: is Trump appeasing Moscow?In Depth European leaders succeeded in bringing themselves in from the cold and softening Moscow’s terms, but Kyiv still faces an unenviable choice
-
Femicide: Italy’s newest crimeThe Explainer Landmark law to criminalise murder of a woman as an ‘act of hatred’ or ‘subjugation’ but critics say Italy is still deeply patriarchal
-
Brazil’s Bolsonaro behind bars after appeals run outSpeed Read He will serve 27 years in prison
-
South Africa wraps up G20 summit boycotted by USSpeed Read Trump has been sparring with South Africa in recent months
-
Trump pushes new Ukraine peace planSpeed Read It involves a 28-point plan to end the war
-
Americans traveling abroad face renewed criticism in the Trump eraThe Explainer Some of Trump’s behavior has Americans being questioned
