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State Department tells US citizens to leave Iraq 'immediately'
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In this file photo taken on June 29, 2019, the Ishtar Gate at the ancient archaeological site of Babylon, south of the Iraqi capital Baghdad. (AFP/Hussein Faleh)
T
he State Department on Friday told US citizens to leave Iraq "immediately," after an American strike killed top Iranian commander Qasem Soleimani in Baghdad.
"Due to heightened tensions in Iraq and the region, we urge US citizens to depart Iraq immediately," the State Department tweeted.
"Due to Iranian-backed militia attacks at the US Embassy compound, all consular operations are suspended. US citizens should not approach the Embassy."
#Iraq: Due to heightened tensions in Iraq and the region, we urge U.S. citizens to depart Iraq immediately. Due to Iranian-backed militia attacks at the U.S. Embassy compound, all consular operations are suspended. U.S. citizens should not approach the Embassy. pic.twitter.com/rdRce3Qr4a
— Travel - State Dept (@TravelGov) January 3, 2020
The US announced earlier Friday that it had killed the powerful general in a strike on Baghdad's international airport, in which the deputy chief of Iraq's powerful Hashed al-Shaabi paramilitary force also died.
Read also: Pentagon confirms Trump ordered killing of Iran Guards commander
Tensions with Iraq were already running high after pro-Iranian protesters laid siege the US embassy on Tuesday, reacting to weekend airstrikes that killed at least 25 fighters from the hardline Kataeb Hezbollah paramilitary group.
The strikes were in response to a 36-rocket attack last week that killed an American contractor at an Iraqi base.
The Pentagon said Soleimani had orchestrated attacks on coalition bases in Iraq over the past few months, including on December 27, the day the contractor was killed.
Soleimani "also approved the attacks" on the US embassy in Baghdad, according to the Pentagon.
The US State Department had issued a travel advisory for Iraq on January 1, warning citizens not to travel to the country.
