US withdraws some embassy staff from Iraq after Iran threat
The US military has reaffirmed concern about possible imminent threats by Iran, but a senior UK commander has cast doubt on these
Baghdad — The US has ordered the departure of non-emergency government employees from Iraq on Wednesday, after repeated US expressions of concern about threats from Iranian-backed forces. The US state department has ordered the withdrawal of the employees from both the US embassy in Baghdad and its consulate in Erbil, the embassy said in a statement. "Normal visa services at both posts will be temporarily suspended," it said, recommending those affected depart as soon as possible. It was unclear how many staff would leave. On Tuesday, the US military reaffirmed concerns about possible imminent threats from Iran to its troops in Iraq, although a senior British commander cast doubt on that and Tehran has called it "psychological warfare". US President Donald Trump's administration has stepped up sanctions pressure by ending waivers for some countries to purchase Iranian oil — part of efforts to roll back the Iran's expanding regional clout. Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi said o...
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