SULAIMANI (ESTA) — The United States has decided to withdraw some staff from its embassy in the Iraqi capital, according to the U.S. media.
The Washington Post reported on Wednesday that a person familiar with the withdrawal described it as a temporary “de-risking” that will continue after the January 3 anniversary of top Iranian commander Qassem Soleimani who was killed in a U.S. drone strike in Baghdad in January.
The U.S. Department of State said that ensuring the safety of U.S. government personnel was its “highest priority”, according to the Post.
“The State Department continually adjusts its diplomatic presence at Embassies and Consulates throughout the world in line with its mission, the local security environment, the health situation, and even the holidays,” the Washington Post quoted a state department’s official as saying.
U.S. Ambassador Matthew Tueller would remain in Iraq and that the embassy would continue to operation, the official added.
Meanwhile, Politico cited officials as saying that the President Donald Trump administration is pulling out as many as half of America’s diplomats from the U.S. embassy in Baghdad.
Citing a U.S. official and a state Department official, Politico reported that the staff reduction is in theory supposed to be temporary.
The U.S. official told Politico that as many as half of the American staff at the U.S. embassy and other diplomatic facilities in Iraq would be leaving, characterizing that as “dozens” of people.
The number of personnel to be withdrawn was unclear, the Post and Politico reported.
The United States reduced its embassy staffing in Baghdad in May 2019, ordering “non-emergency” government employees to leave Iraq due to the danger posed by continuous rocket attacks.
U.S. Secretary of State has also warned that the United States would close its embassy in Iraq if the federal government did not control Shia militias it accuses of launching rockets at the embassy and bases housing American troops.
Washington is also reducing its troops in Iraq from about 3,000 to 2,500 by January 15, following a directive by President Donald Trump last month.
