No plans to pull out of US forces from Iraq: Mark Esper

WASHINGTON: The United States’ Defense Secretary Mark Esper here said the US has no plans to pull out of American forces from Iraq.

US Defense Secretary Mark Esper, in a letter, informed Iraqi government about the repositioning of troops in preparation to leave the country. The move come in the repercussion of an American drone strike killed Iranian military commander Qassem Soleimani.

“There’s been no decision whatsoever to leave Iraq,” Esper told Pentagon when journalists asked about the letter, adding there were no plans issued to arrangements to leave.

The official letter from US Brigadier General William Seely, the commanding general of Task Force Iraq, indicated clearly that US forces were readying for the exit.

“In deference to the autonomy of the Republic of Iraq, and as requested by the Iraqi Parliament and the Prime Minister, CJTF-OIR will be repositioning forces over the course of the coming days and weeks to prepare for onward movement,” he wrote, referring to the coalition forces fighting Daesh in Iraq and Syria.