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The US army is preparing to move its army out amid growing fears of retaliation from Iran, according to a leaked military document.

It will mark the first time in 17 years that the US does not have a military presence in the country.

Last Friday, US President Donald Trump ordered the assassination of Iran’s Quds Force Major-General Qasem Soleimani at Baghdad's International Airport.

The killing sparked outrage in Iraq, as Trump gave no prior warning.

Iraq's Parliament afterwards urged the government to oust foreign troops.

(Image: AFP via Getty Images)

The head of the US military's Task Force Iraq, Brigadier General William Seely, has sent a letter to the head of Iraq's joint operations command.

It said troops would "be repositioning forces over the course of the coming days and weeks to prepare for onward movement”.

A US defence official and an Iraqi defence official have confirmed the letter is real.

It adds: “Coalition forces will take appropriate measures to minimise and mitigate the disturbance to the public.

(Image: Getty Images)

“In addition, we will conduct these operations during hours of darkness to help alleviate any perception that we may be bringing more coalition forces into the IZ (International Zone of Baghdad).

“As we begin implementing this next phase of operations, I want to reiterate the value of our friendship and partnership.

“We respect your sovereign decision to order our departure.”

However, Defense Secretary Mark Esper has since said: “There’s been no decision whatsoever to leave Iraq.

“I don’t know what that letter is … we’re trying to find out where that’s coming from, what that is.

(Image: AFP via Getty Images)

“But there’s been no decision made to leave Iraq. Period.”

U.S Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Mark A. Milley, tonight reporters: "That letter is a draft, it was a mistake, it should not have been released."

Soleimani was the head of Iran’s elite Quds Force, which has been designated by the U.S. as a terror group since 2007.

He oversaw networks of proxy forces, long been suspected of being behind actions to destabilise the Middle East.

Trump afterwards said he ordered the assassination to "to stop a war, not to start one".

The US has since deployed 3,000 extra troops to the Middle East.