US to withdraw some staff from embassy in Iraq amid tensions with Iran

Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox

Get our free Inside Washington email

Please enter a valid email address

Please enter a valid email address

SIGN UP

I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy

The Trump administration is withdrawing dozens of its diplomats from the US embassy in Baghdad, as tensions rise throughout the region.

The withdrawal of diplomats was described to the Washington Post by a US State Department official as a “de-risking”, ahead of the anniversary of the killing of senior Iranian military leader Qasem Soleimani by a US drone strike in Baghdad, Iraq, on 3 January 2020.

The official, who spoke under anonymity, said that the withdrawal will continue after the anniversary date. Donald Trump’s presidency ends on 20 January.

The State Department did not provide an official confirmation of the staff reduction in Baghdad, but told the Post that ensuring the safety of US employees is its “highest priority.”

“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,” a department official said.

They confirmed that the US ambassador Matthew Tueller will remain in Iraq, while the embassy will continue to operate as normal.

Earlier this year, US secretary of state Mike Pompeo threatened to withdraw all US staff from Baghdad, after Iranian militias fired multiple rockets at American diplomatic locations in Iraq.

The US began reducing its staff in the region in 2019 because of the danger of attacks. The Post reported that the embassy in Baghdad has been running on a smaller staff since that initial withdrawal.

The news comes less than two months before President-elect Joe Biden is sworn in as US president on 20 January, and as tensions rise across the Middle East.

Mr Biden is expected to revive a nuclear deal between Iran and other world powers that was abandoned by Mr Trump in 2018, which would offer the country financial relief in return for a limit on nuclear activities.

While last week, a senior Iranian nuclear scientist, Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, was killed in a targeted attack in Tehran, Iran, which has increased tensions in the region.

Israel, which is a close US ally, is suspected to be behind the attack, according to Politico. Iran has threatened to retaliate for both the deaths of Fakhrizadeh and Soleimani.

The US military will also be withdrawing employees from Iraq, as its staff is expected to reduce from 3,000 to 2,500 by 15 January.

US Army general Mark A Milley, who serves as the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said that decisions on the future of staff in Iraq will be made by the “next administration.”

The Independent has contacted Mr Biden’s team for comment