19 Apr 2024
Wednesday 15 May 2019 - 14:48
Story Code : 348943

US orders departure of non-emergency employees from Iraq

US orders departure of non-emergency employees from Iraq
Press TV - The US State Department has ordered the departure of non-emergency government employees from Iraq, after repeated US expressions of concern about so-called threats from Iran's allies in the Arab country.

The State Department ordered the pullout of the employees from both the US Embassy in Baghdad and its consulate in Erbil, the embassy said in a statement on Wednesday.

Normal visa services at both posts will be temporarily suspended, it said, recommending those affected depart as soon as possible.

"The USgovernment has limited ability to provide emergency services to UScitizens in Iraq," it added.

It was unclear how many staff members would leave.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo made an unannounced trip to Iraq on Tuesday, pressing Iraqi leaders about what he called the increased dangers to Americans there from Iranian forces and allies.

Despite this, the British general overseeing the so-called US-led coalition forces in Syria and Iraq has asserted that there has been no increased threat from Iran amid the US military buildup in the Persian Gulf, a posture at odds with the United States.

British Major General Chris Ghika said at a Pentagon news briefing Tuesday that the coalition has seen no increased threat from Iranian-backed forces in the two countries.

The coalition has observed no change in their posture since the recent exchange between the United States and Iran and we hope and expect that that will continue We dont see an increased threat from them at this stage, Ghika told reporters.

Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul-Mahdi said on Tuesday he was getting indications from talks with both the United States and Iran that things will end well despite the rhetoric.

The administration of US President Donald Trump has been ratcheting up economic and military pressure on Iran.

The US has deployed a carrier strike group and a bomber task force to the Middle East to confront what the Trump administration claims are "clear indications" of threats from Iran.
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