The US’s top military official has insisted America is not “withdrawing” from Iraq, after the emergence of a letter that suggested troops were preparing to pull out.

Defence secretary Mark Esper told reporters at the weekend he knew nothing of a letter – apparently signed by a one US general – suggesting Washington was preparing to relocate its forces round Iraq in advance of a possible withdrawal.

“There’s been no decision whatsoever to leave Iraq,” said Mr Esper. 

He added: “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.

He also told reporters the US remained committed to the fight against Isis, in Iraq and elsewhere.

Mr Esper spoke after confusing and chaotic reports that a letter from a US general in Iraq had informed the Iraqi authorities, America was preparing to move some forces inside Iraq ahead of a possible withdrawal.

The letter, which was not signed but printed on the letterhead of William H Seely, a US brigadier with the coalition of forces that is fighting in Iraq, warned of “repositioning over the course of the coming days and weeks to prepare for onward movement”.

It said there would be an increase in helicopter travel around the Green Zone and added: “We respect your sovereignty decision to order our departure.”

When reporters first began asking press office staffers about the letter’s authenticity, it became apparent that the president’s own staff were once again caught unaware about what appeared to be a major development in the events following Mr Trump’s decision to order the targeted killing of Soleimani.

White House spokespersons were unable to immediately confirm the document’s provenance, but sources close to the administration suggested that the unsigned document had been leaked prematurely. 

The confusion may have underscored the fact that many in the administration were caught by surprise by Donald Trump’s decision to order the targetted killing last week of Iran’s senior military commander, Qassem Soleimani./

Over the weekend, the Iraqi parliament voted for the removal of US forces from the country, something Mr Trump responded to by threatening massive sanctions on Baghdad. 

Meanwhile, Iran said it was no observing any of the undertaking its made in regards to limiting uranium enrichment as part of the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, that Mr Trump pulled the US out of last year and reimposed sanctions.

The Pentagon later said the letter that sparked confusion on social media was a “poorly worded, unsigned draft”, relating to increased levels of troop movements.  

Alyssa Farah, a Pentagon spokesperson, later tweeted: “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.”

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