U.S. orders staff to leave Iraq Embassy
16, May 2019
Prelims level :
Mains level :
- The department ordered “non-emergency U.S. government employees”, at both the Embassy in Baghdad and the Consulate in Irbil, to leave the country.
- The order applies primarily to full-time diplomats posted to Iraq by State Department headquarters in Washington, and visa services in Iraq would be suspended as a result. Contractors who provide security, food and other services will remain in place for now.
- The administration had received intelligence related to “Iranian activity” that put U.S. facilities and service personnel at “substantial risk”.