US Embassy in Baghdad: We continue to operate, and the staff’s departure is temporary for security reasons.
US Embassy in Baghdad: We continue to operate, and the staff’s departure is temporary for security reasons.
2025-07-08 06:27
Shafaq News – Baghdad
The US Embassy in Baghdad confirmed on Tuesday that its mission in the Iraqi capital and the Consulate General in Erbil remain open and operating as usual, stressing its commitment to advancing US policy priorities in Iraq, supporting its sovereignty, and engaging with Iraqi leaders and people.
“For the safety of all, and due to escalating regional tensions, the US Mission in Iraq began the orderly departure of some of its staff on June 12,” an embassy spokesperson told Shafaq News Agency. “As part of our ongoing efforts to streamline operations, additional staff members left Iraq on June 21. These departures represent a continuation of the process that began on June 12.”
The spokesperson explained that “the orderly departure is temporary,” while stressing that “the embassy does not discuss staff numbers for security reasons.”
On June 11, the US Embassy in Baghdad announced its decision to reduce the number of its staff in Iraq, stressing that the decision is part of comprehensive measures in the region to protect the safety of Americans.
An embassy spokesperson told Shafaq News Agency at the time: “President Trump is committed to keeping Americans safe, both at home and abroad. Based on this commitment, we are constantly assessing the appropriate posture for staff at all our embassies. Based on our latest assessment, we have decided to reduce the size of our mission presence in Iraq.”
In this context, an Iraqi government official stated that the US measures “are not limited to Iraq alone, but include other countries in the region.”
These moves coincided with the military escalation between Israel and Iran, and the accompanying threats to target US interests and diplomatic bases in the region, including Iraq, prompting Washington to take precautionary measures.
shafaq.com
