The United States has no plans to pull American troops out of Iraq, according to Defense Secretary Mark Esper after reports of a military letter informing Iraq officials about the repositioning of troops.
The developments follow an American drone strike ordered by US President Donald Trump that killed Iranian military commander Qassem Soleimani, widely seen as Iran's second most powerful figure behind Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
"There's been no decision whatsoever to leave Iraq," Esper told Pentagon reporters on Monday when asked about the letter, adding there were no plans issued to prepare to leave.
Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei (3rd L), Iranian President Hassan Rouhani (2nd L) attend the funeral of Qasem Soleimani. Source: AAP
"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 United States has about 5,000 U.S. troops in Iraq.
The letter was a poorly worded draft document meant only to underscore increase movement of US forces, the top US military officer told reporters.
"Poorly worded, implies withdrawal. That's not what's happening," US Army General Mark Milley, chairman of the military's Joint Chiefs of Staff, said, stressing there was no withdrawal being planned.
The authenticity of the letter, which was addressed to the Iraqi defence ministry's Combined Joint Operations Baghdad and signed by a US general, was confirmed to Reuters news agency by an Iraqi military source.
Esper added the United States was still committed to countering Islamic State in Iraq, alongside America's allies and partners.
Several helicopters could be heard flying over Baghdad on Monday night.
It was not immediately clear if this was a related development. The letter said coalition forces would be using helicopters to evacuate.
A woman carries a picture of slain Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps General and commander of the Quds Force Qasem Soleimani during a rally in Beirut, Lebanon. Source: EPA
In Tehran, Khamenei wept in grief with hundreds of thousands of mourners thronging the streets of the Iranian capital on Monday at Soleimani's funeral.
He was killed by a US drone at Baghdad airport on Friday.
"Sir, in deference to the sovereignty 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," the letter stated.
Qassem Soleimani attends a meeting in Tehran, Iran in 2016. Source: AAP
It was signed by US Marine Corps Brigadier General William Seely III, commanding general of the US-led military coalition against Islamic State.
CJTF-OIR stands for Combined Joint Task Force-Operation Inherent Resolve.
"We respect your sovereign decision to order our departure," the letter said.
Iran's demand for US forces to withdraw from the region gained traction on Sunday when Iraq's parliament passed a resolution calling for all foreign troops to leave the country.
with wires...
