US Ambassador to Iraq confirms ‘temporary’ staff withdrawals

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — The US ambassador to Iraq confirmed late Thursday the “temporary” withdrawal of some diplomatic staff from Iraq, which Iraqi officials have said is due to security concerns.  

A number of news agencies have reported the withdrawal of US diplomats from Baghdad, citing unnamed security sources. Ambassador Matthew Tueller confirmed the reports in a Thursday video message, but said he will remain in the country along with “a core team of American diplomats and the US advisors to the Iraqi military.”  

“Many of my Iraqi friends have contacted me to ask about press reports that the US embassy is reducing staff in Baghdad. I have been able to assure them that I will continue to carry out my normal duties from the embassy,” he said.

“The temporary reduction of staff numbers will not affect the commitment of these dedicated personnel,” added the top diplomat. 

"It's a minor drawdown based on security reservations from the US side. They could come back – it's just a security blip," one senior security source told AFP, saying the reductions “are not a rupture of diplomatic ties.”

Fresh rocket attacks against US interests resumed last month, ending a ceasefire between the US and Iran-backed militias, which have launched numerous IED and rocket attacks targeting the American embassy and convoys supplying the US-led coalition against the Islamic State (ISIS).   

The US previously threatened to withdraw all troops and close its embassy if Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi was unable to reign in Iran-backed groups. 

The decision also comes one month before the anniversary of the death of Iranian top commander Qasem Soleimani, whose assassination by Washington in January of this year prompted a flurry of rocket attacks on Iraqi bases hosting US troops.