State Dept orders departure from Iraq of non-emergency government workers
The U.S. Department of State has ordered the departure of non-emergency government personnel from Iraq. The State Department has determined that the security situation in Iraq poses potential risks to individuals associated with the U.S. government. The order affects all non-emergency U.S. government personnel assigned to the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, Consulate General Erbil, and U.S. Consulate Basrah. All non-emergency personnel have been ordered to depart Iraq by commercial transportation as soon as possible. The U.S. Department of State warns U.S. citizens not to travel to Iraq, and strongly urges those currently in Iraq to depart.