US withdraws ‘non-emergency’ staff from Iraq and Kurdistan diplomatic missions

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – The United States has decided to withdraw non-emergency staff from its Baghdad embassy, Erbil consulate, and Baghdad Diplomatic Support Center in response to the coronavirus pandemic and the deteriorating security situation. 

The US State Department suspended normal visa services at its consulate in Erbil and embassy in Baghdad on March 14. It has now ordered non-emergency government employees to leave Iraq and return to US.

“Due to a combination of security conditions and restricted travel options as a result of the global COVID-19 pandemic, the State Department has ordered the departure of designated US Government employees at the US Embassy in Baghdad, the Baghdad Diplomatic Support Center, and the US Consulate General in Erbil,” read a statement released by the embassy on Thursday.

“Visa services at both posts remain suspended,” the statement added.

The US government has warned its citizens living and working in Iraq that it has “limited ability to provide emergency services” including evacuations. 

Hundreds of US citizens live in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region and some 5,000 American troops are stationed at Iraqi bases at the invitation of Baghdad. 

US troops are currently repositioning in Iraq in response to a recent spate of rocket attacks launched by Iran-backed militias and to better protect personnel from COVID-19 contagion.

The US has already handed over control of al-Qaim and Qayyarah military bases to the Iraqi Security Forces (ISF). They are also expected to withdraw from Kirkuk’s K1 airbase in the coming weeks.

The US-led coalition said late last week it is adjusting its positions in Iraq in response to the coronavirus pandemic and to reflect its “success” in the campaign to defeat the Islamic State group (ISIS).

“We anticipate the coalition supporting the Iraqi Security Forces from fewer bases with fewer people,” the coalition said in a statement Friday. 

Several French, British, and Czechs troops have already departed Iraq in the past week in after the coalition’s training mission was suspended. 

The State Department advises US citizens to “avoid international travel”. 

“In countries where commercial departure options remain available, US citizens who live in the United States should arrange for immediate return to the United States, unless they are prepared to remain abroad for an indefinite period,” the State Department says on its website.

The United States now has the highest number of known cases of coronavirus in the world with more than 82,000.

Iraq suspended all flights on March 17. The ban will remain in place until at least March 28.

Baghdad has imposed a nationwide lockdown which will last until at least April 11 to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

Iraqi health officials said Friday that 76 new coronavirus cases have been recorded in the past 24 hours, bringing the national total to 458.

Forty people have died and 122 have recovered since the outbreak began in Iraq. Four died in the past 24 hours – two in Basra, one in Dhi Qar, and one in Babil. 

New cases have emerged across the country, including 36 in Basra, 18 in Najaf, 14 in Baghdad, one in Kirkuk, one in Dhi Qar, one in Babil, and one in Saladin.

The Iraqi health ministry said another case had been detected in the Kurdistan Region province of Sulaimani and three more in Erbil. The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) says Erbil has four new cases.