US urges citizens to leave Iraq immediately
- The United States issues travel advisory to its citizens in Iraq
- The State Department issued the security alert after Iran promised retaliation against the US for an airstrike that killed top Iranian General Qassem Soleimani
- The US says all consular operations are suspended in Iraq due to Iranian-backed militia attacks at its embassy compound
The United States on Friday, January 3, urged its citizens in Iraq to leave the country immediately over security concerns.
The State Department issued the security alert after Iran promised harsh retaliation against the United States for an airstrike that killed top Iranian general, Qassem Soleimani, at the Baghdad International Airport.
“Due to heightened tensions in Iraq and the region, we urge U.S. citizens to depart Iraq immediately,” the State Department said in a tweet.
The security alert also stated that all consular operations are suspended in Iraq due to Iranian-backed militia attacks at the US embassy compound.
The travel advisory came after a US airstrike killed Qasem Soleimani, a key Iranian military commander, in a decisive defensive action to protect US personnel abroad.
Legit.ng gathered through a CNN report that the airstrike, which was intended to deter future Iranian attack plans, was confirmed by the Pentagon on Thursday, January 2.
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It was reported that the assassination of the top military leader marks a major escalation in regional tensions that have pitted Tehran against the US and Washington's Gulf Arab allies in the region.
Reacting to the killing, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s supreme leader, vowed that harsh revenge awaits those responsible for the killing.
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Source: Legit.ng
