Washington (CNN) The top US general said Monday a letter suggesting the US would withdraw troops from Iraq was released by mistake and poorly worded, telling reporters "that's not what's happening."

But for over an hour, military officials in Washington and Baghdad were unable to offer a definitive answer about the letter's veracity or whether it indicated that US troops were, in fact, about to be moved out of Iraq, and the lack of clarity fueled significant confusion about its meaning.

In the end, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Gen. Mark Milley, was able to provide some clarity, telling reporters that the letter itself was a draft and its release was an "honest mistake."

The timing of the incident, however, was unfortunate, coming as military officials, along with other members of President Donald Trump's national security team, continue to face questions about the killing of Iranian commander Qasem Soleimani

A White House official told CNN Trump was "concerned" about the mistake. The President asked aides about the letter and "wanted it cleaned up," the official said.

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