U.S. Withholding Iraq Withdrawal Rate

The U.S. military declined to tell reporters Thursday the rate at which American soldiers are being removed from the country.

“The numbers of troops per week and the bases that will transition is not being released,” Gen. Thomas Spoehr said during a news conference. “We’re doing that to ensure the protection of our servicemembers.”

Spoeher, U.S. forces’ deputy commanding general tasked with overseeing the logistical components of the withdrawal, added that in the past, militants have targeted servicemembers after learning when specific units would be leaving.