Earlier in the day, Chief of Staff and Adviser to Iraqi Prime Minister Abdulkarim Hashim Mostafa told Sputnik that the United States will pull out its forces from Syria through Iraqi territory no later than April 1.
"We are focused on a controlled, orderly withdrawal of US forces from Syria that will not be subject to arbitrary timeline," US Defence Department spokesman Commander Sean Robertson told Sputnik on Tuesday when asked about the Iraqi official’s statement.
The US troops have been operating in Syria as part of an international coalition for about five years without the permission of Syrian authorities or the UN Security Council. The United States has, in particular, supported the Kurdish-led militia controlling the territories to the east of the Euphrates and opposing the Syrian government.
READ MORE: Iraqi Parliament May Start New Session With Debating Bill on US Troop Pullout
Syrian President Bashar Assad has accused Washington of trying to overthrow the country's leadership and providing support to anti-government militants.
