Within the last24 hours, the US was and then was not bombing Iranian cultural sites and was and then was not preparing to withdraw US forces from Iraq.
— Jim Sciutto (@jimsciutto) January 6, 2020
Perhaps the ultimate irony: the letter describing U.S. troop movements "out of Iraq", leaked to Iraqi media by the PM's office, was first released by the Iran-backed Asaib Ahl al-Haq on its TV channel. AAH blew up many US troops & its leader is a US-designated terrorist.
— Liz Sly (@LizSly) January 6, 2020
LETTER from US Military to #Iraq Government informing of US Military Exit from Iraq. A major Iran ask and was voted by parliament yesterday.
Letter in English & Arabic confirmed by AFP @GebeilyM & WP. pic.twitter.com/Eha0DY5ka0
— Joyce Karam (@Joyce_Karam) January 6, 2020
NEW w/@attackerman. The US told Iraqi officials late Monday night that the military letter was real but to ignore it https://t.co/96Whk6Yap7
— Erin Banco (@ErinBanco) January 6, 2020
MORE BREAKING: @thejointstaff Gen. Milley came back to brief us again after looking at the letter. "It was a mistake," he said. Milley said it was a draft, poorly worded, and had not been signed. It was being worked w/ Iraqis. Bottom Line: US troops ARE NOT leaving, he said. https://t.co/L6wGYiVIkv
— Tara Copp (@TaraCopp) January 6, 2020
A day after #Iraq parliament called for foreign troop ouster, US military drafted letter on forces 'moving out' – then mistakenly sent to Iraqi counterparts.@AFP's wrap up on latest chaotic episode following US strike that killed Qasem Soleimani –https://t.co/I4nop2RlXI
— Maya Gebeily (@GebeilyM) January 6, 2020
The #Iraq Letter Confusion
• 2:40 pm: AFP quoting US+Iraqi officials confirms US withdrawal ✉️
• 2:48 pm: WaPo confirms
• 3:15 pm: Pentagon ‘looking into it’
• 4:00 pm: Esper says “inaccurate”
• 4:25 pm: Milley says it’s “draft” & releasing=mistake https://t.co/QM3YEdScFU— Joyce Karam (@Joyce_Karam) January 6, 2020