US orders citizens to leave Iraq 'as soon as possible'
Washington has urged US Government employees to leave Iraq "as soon as possible" and warned normal visa services will be "temporarily suspended".
Washington has issued a shocking order today to US Government employees in Iraq as it urged them to immediately leave the Middle Eastern country. Issuing a statement in the early hours of May 15, the US Government told "non-emergency Government employees" in Iraq to "depart by commercial transportation as soon as possible".
And, referring to the US consulate in Erbil, it added: "Normal visa services at both posts will be temporarily suspended.
"The US Government has limited ability to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens in Iraq."
This comes after the US Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, paid a surprise visit to Iraq's capital city, Baghdad, earlier this month.
During his trip to Iraq, Pompeo warned Iranian forces were “escalating their activity” and Iraq was facing an "imminent" threat.
As he met with Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi, Pompeo voiced his worries for the safety of the many US citizens working in Iraq.
Following the meeting, Pompeo told reporters, “We talked to them about the importance of Iraq ensuring that it’s able to adequately protect Americans in their country.”
And two Iraqi security sources claimed intel gathered by US intelligence forces showed Iran-backed Shi’ite militias positioning rockets near bases housing US forces in Iraq.