NewStats: 3,262,404 , 8,177,060 topics. Date: Monday, 02 June 2025 at 07:54 AM 38661i

Reports Monday that the U.S. planned to withdraw forces from Iraq were turned on their heads hours later when U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper told reporters there were no plans to pull up stakes.

'There's been no decision whatsoever to leave Iraq, period' Esper said, adding that he and his staff were 'trying to figure out' the meaning of a letter signed by a brigadier general, which suggested the opposite.

'There are no plans to leave,' he emphasized, suggesting discussion of a massive troop movement may just be a signal that forces are being repositioned inside Iraq's borders.

The U.S. military appeared to inform its counterparts in Baghdad on Monday that it was preparing for 'movement out of Iraq,' a day after the Iraqi parliament urged the government in a non-binding resolution to oust foreign troops.

The head of the U.S. military's Task Force Iraq, Brigadier General William Seely, sent a letter to the head of Iraq's t operations command, a copy of which made the rounds on Twitter almost immediately.

'Sir, in deference to the sovereignty of the Republic of Iraq, and as requested by the Iraqi Parliament and the Prime Minister, [the coalition] will be repositioning forces over the course of the coming days and weeks to prepare for onward movement,' Seely wrote. He added: 'We respect your sovereign decision to order our departure.'

President Donald Trump said Sunday aboard Air Force One that troops would not leave Iraq unless the country compensated the U.S. for the costs associated with building and maintaining military facilities there.

'We have a very extraordinarily expensive air base that's there. It cost billions of dollars to build. Long before my time,' he said. 'We're not leaving unless they pay us back for it.'

Some 5,200 U.S. soldiers are stationed across Iraqi bases to local troops preventing a resurgence of the Islamic State group

The Pentagon hasn't confirmed the authenticity of this letter, informing an Iraqi military leader the the U.S. and other coalition forces are pulling up stakes; but Iraqi military leaders have said it's genuine

Trump also said he would punish Baghdad economically if U.S. troops were evicted.

'We will charge them sanctions like they've never seen before ever. It'll make Iranian sanctions look somewhat tame,' he warned.

Yet Iraqi premier Adel Abdel Mahdi met with the U.S. Ambassador Matthew Tueller on Monday, telling him it was 'necessary to work together to withdraw foreign forces from Iraq.

On Sunday, Iraq's parliament voted in favor of the Baghdad government rescinding its permission for all foreign troops to remain in the country.

That came in reaction to a U.S. precision drone strike on Baghdad that killed Iranian general Qasem Soleimani and top Iraqi commander Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, among others.

The resulting chaos has made some in Iraq fear a new civil war, and drew millions to crowd streets in Tehran to see Soleimani's coffin paraded through the city.

Gen. Seely wrote on Monday in order to reposition thousands of troops elsewhere, 'Coalition Forces are required to take certain measures to ensure that the movement out of Iraq is conducted in a safe and efficient manner.'

Key figure: The letter from the Marine general in charge of coalition forces fighting ISIS and training the Iraqi army comes after the drone strike which killed Iran's Qassem Soleimani, its most senior commander who the U.S. designated a terrorist

The letter was signed by a U.S. official on Pentagon letterhead, making it unclear whether it applied to forces from the 76 countries which make up the international coalition.

An Iraqi defense official confirmed the letter was real and had been delivered.

In Washington, a Pentagon spokesman said he could not immediately confirm its authenticity. Spokespersons with Operation Inherent Resolve, the formal name for the military operatiojn in Iraq, were not available for comment.

But officials said helicopters would be traveling in and around the Green Zone as part of the preparations.

Reporters could hear helicopters flying low over Baghdad throughout the night on Monday.

Some 5,200 U.S. soldiers are stationed across Iraqi bases to local troops preventing a resurgence of the ISIS terror group.

Soleimani's death has galvanized Iranians around revenge for the 'martyr'; Hundreds of thousands crowded into Tehran streets to see his coffin on Monday

They make up the bulk of the broader coalition, invited by the Iraqi government in 2014 to help combat the jihadists.

Ending America's 17-year military presence in Iraq is a risky undertaking for the country.

Iraq was barely starting to recover from a devastating four-year war against ISIS when the mass uprising against the country's ruling elite erupted on Oct. 1, forcing the resignation of Prime Minister Adel Abdul-Mahdi two months later. He hasn't been replaced.

A pullout of U.S. troops could cripple the fight against ISIS militants and allow the extremists to make a comeback.

Militants d with ISIS routinely carry out attacks in northern and western Iraq, hiding out in rugged desert and mountainous areas. Iraqi forces rely on the U.S. for logistics and weapons in pursuing them.

An American withdrawal could also enable Iran to deepen its influence in Iraq, which like Iran is a majority Shiite country.

'It is not that simple,' Lebanese political analyst Ibrahim Bayram said. 'This will increase the complications inside Iraq, the conflicts and contradictions ... and the clash, both political and non-political, between the Iranians and Americans.'

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-7858201/amp/US-led-military-coalition-says-WITHDRAW-Iraq-parliament-voted-troops-leave.html

Nigeriapen:
Wait For Full Update Soon

you dey create thread and you no get full update, abi details?

We have Boko haram and Fulani herdsmen all around yet we keep discussing US and Iran. How are the both nations contributing to our welfare.

We must do away with this slave mentality.

I thank God the White House is parliament is trying to look into Trump’s decision on this Iraq �� case... if they leave him to continue surely the US would win the war but trust me there would be casualties I mean much casualties in America and this I pray it shouldn’t happen

War, war, war and the rumours of war.

2020 is too young for this kind of baptism.

Ok

Wtf so you're forcing yourselves on them now? America has lost it under Trump oh! Overhyped sh*t...

Iraq has lost its sovereignty. Those who the U.S. in this brutal show of force should know they have no inclination with Israel, it was Lybia, Syria, Afghan and presently Iran, it could be Nigeria tommorow.

America never does anything for the love of God except looking to reap massively from it.

Nigerians are too religious and uninformed to see it's not about Muslim and Christian. Even the Israel you so has more Muslim population than Christians.

And they will suffer huge casualties soon, I used to be sympathetic to the US, not anymore. They are more bullish than the people they claim to be fighting

Their use to be a guy that will drop his submission on this kind of thread but not this time , why ?

America Sha wan fight war

I do not pray for a war now, but a great war occuring on earth is inevitable why? Where there is no love and justice there can't be peace. Anyone who thinks the world will get better or there would be peace needs to wake up. Pray? We can only Pray to God to show mercy, but God won't come down to earth to stop war, God has done all things for us, mankind.

What saddens and hurts me is that this our generation knows nothing about war, It is terrible, and now, The big countries are dragging Nigeria into war build up, why? Because they know an attack on Nigeria will shake the world, sadly, many don't know this. We are densely populated with several Nigerians scattered across the world.

If a war should occur against Nigeria (cyber or nuclear) , It would be devastating and really bad, why? Nigeria has no laid down war control measures, no adequate amenities, no adequate well educated leaders in offices and no adequate security personnel. It would be a blood bath.

If a war occurs, firstly, most leaders(politicians) will fly out of the country, all the rich ones and celebrities this generation worship will fly out without thinking twice, food will be expensive, crime will greatly increase, it will be terrible. Food will be scarce, most of this generation are living a virtual life(social media Facebook Twitter and co) That won't work well either. It would be terrible.

Well, I am a Nigerian living in Nigeria and I love my people, I would say, Do not lose your soul even if you lose your life.... Be wise..... Man created Religions, traditions, doctrines, cultures, science....... God sent a Savior. The soul of man is priceless. You are reading this, You have a soul, start seeking the savior of mankind for we are living in the end of time and the masses are asleep and decieved. I didn't say start going to church, I said start seeking and searching for the savior of your soul sent by the creator of all things. Religion will save no soul, sadly. Only those that have a personal relationship with the savior would be saved(eternal life).

Be wise...... I love you, for we are all mankind and we are one.

Really

Techdra:
Wtf so you're forcing yourselves on them now? America has lost it under Trump oh! Overjoyed sh*t...

ThreeBlackBird:
Iraq has lost its sovereignty.

The letter does not unequivocally say that they are withdrawing. Please read again and read it well.

Techdra:
Wtf so you're forcing yourselves on them now? America has lost it under Trump oh! Overjoyed sh*t...

Mechie onu, onye otu Obama, ndi ojoo

When Iraq already ordered them to leave. Dreamers

Why should he widraw? Abeg he should continue we are enjoying the movie.

Glad to see the USA doing the will of the Sunnis and the Saudis in the middle east. Those who think Trump is doing the muslims dirty have no clue about islamic sectionalism or middle eastern politics.

lee007:
And they will suffer huge casualties soon, I used to be sympathetic to the US, not anymore. They are more bullish than the people they claim to be fighting

Very. All this because of their Oil. As if the US doesn't have its own resources. World power my foot!

ShenTeh:
War, war, war and the rumours of war.

2020 is too young for this kind of baptism.

See to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come.

anonimi:




The letter does not unequivocally say that they are withdrawing. Please read again and read it well.

He's threatened they wouldn't leave because they have a military base there and if they are forced to leave, he'll give them the greatest sanctions ever. What else?

If Saudi Arabia government are given 2 Nuclear Weapons to destroy any country on this earth, the First Bomb will be sent toward IRAN...

Do you know where the second bomb will be sent It's NOT Israel.......


It will be sent to IRAN again to finish the remaining survivors.....

This is a struggle that Africa will undergo 100 to 150 yrs from now... (imperialism)

Sanfranka6:


Mechie onu, onye otu Obama, ndi ojoo

Ok. Obama is a bad person now? That's not what you said when he was in power... Sycophants.

Divorce not acceptable

leofab:
ignorant mofo

��� Ignorance wey no get level...

[b][/b][color=#990000][/color]War is only an object for destruction of lives and properties.
Don't be ignorant of the consequence If you clamour for it.

But surely there will be a very great war(ww3) before rapture will take place then the introduction of the beast with 7Heads(the ruler of earth) and the God of the Antichrist.

Nigerians shine your eyes.

While you discuss Iran/America war palava, we are faced with lots of challenges also. Boko Haram, the new tariff, etc.

Techdra:
Wtf so you're forcing yourselves on them now? America has lost it under Trump oh! Overhyped sh*t...

are you sure your in this world?


Forcing who on what?

America spent a lot on Iraq, the lost men and women in Iraq, they built a multi billion dollar military bases in Iraq.

Who is going to pay for all that? You? Or your big empty head?

So Iraq should pay up and America would leave.

Ghm